The debate surrounding the accreditation of online schools in the UK intensifies as Somerset Council faces escalating costs. The government has advised councils to use only accredited online schools under a scheme introduced by the Department for Education (DfE) in 2023. However, Somerset Council has spent over £400,000 on placements, more than double the expenditure from the previous year, as the demand for alternative education rises amid growing numbers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The number of children requiring alternative education has surged by 20% from 2022 to 2024. In response, online schools have become a crucial option for many families. Academy21, the largest online school in the UK catering to children with special needs, taught 5,000 children in England last year and is accredited by the DfE. Its executive head advocates for online learning as a "positive choice" for families seeking flexible education solutions.
Despite the government's push for accreditation, 62 children in Somerset received funding to attend 14 unaccredited schools between April 2024 and January. This situation arises as councils commission online school placements for children unable to thrive in mainstream settings, often due to SEND challenges. A spokesperson from Somerset Council highlighted a "sharp and rapid" increase in SEND needs globally, emphasizing their legal obligation to provide education to all eligible pupils.
"We aim to only use providers whose quality has been checked by Somerset Council and are working closely with staff to ensure that, if a provider is not on our directory, the appropriate checks are made before they are commissioned." – Somerset Council
Eight online schools have joined the government's accreditation scheme, yet some providers deem its criteria too restrictive, particularly part-time institutions. Dr. Sarah Gillie, a senior lecturer in education at the University of the West of England, describes online schools as a "lifeline" for certain students but underscores the need for regulation to verify teacher qualifications.
"Each provider has its own pluses and minuses," – Dr. Gillie
"Certainly the ones that I've looked at have been well-run, well-organised, you can get a sense of who the people are behind the screen – and that's really important." – Dr. Gillie
Children with complex needs attending unaccredited online schools represent substantial financial commitments. Thomas Keaney, proprietor of TCES National Online School and the first to join the government scheme, calls for transformative changes in education delivery.
"Something has to change. That's what I call the 'revolution'." – Thomas Keaney
"We've been doing 150 years of bricks and mortar standing at the front of the classroom," – Thomas Keaney
The necessity of online education is further endorsed by Heidi Mavir, who acknowledges its role in maintaining educational continuity for vulnerable students.
"For those families, online provision is absolutely key to keeping those kids connected to their education," – Heidi Mavir
"Those are some of our most vulnerable students, and some of our students most at risk of falling behind educationally if they don't have provision." – Heidi Mavir
The conversation around online education remains polarized as stakeholders weigh flexibility against quality assurance. The executive head of Academy21 advocates for harnessing online learning's potential to accommodate diverse learner needs.
"I think there's an opportunity in the country to really grasp what online [learning] can do alongside wonderful other providers and schools to make a real difference in young people's lives, to give them flexible education that fits around their needs," – Academy21 executive head
Somerset Council acknowledges its occasional reliance on non-accredited providers due to heightened demand for alternative educational settings.
"I think we've been left in a situation where we have to use non-accredited providers 'from time to time' due to an increase in demand for alternative school places." – Somerset Council
