What happens when you are homeschooled?

When you are homeschooled, you learn outside a traditional school building. Lessons happen at home, or through a structured online school that delivers live teaching, sets assignments, and tracks your progress.

The curriculum you follow depends on what your family or school chooses. Many families in the UAE and wider GCC opt for a recognised framework such as the British curriculum, which includes Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge A-Levels at secondary level.

A typical homeschool day looks different from a classroom day, but it still follows a timetable. At Digital International School, students attend live lessons with qualified instructors, submit work through a learning platform, and communicate directly with their teachers. There is structure, just without the commute.

Assessment works the same way as in any accredited school. Students sit recognised exams, such as Cambridge IGCSE, which are accepted by universities worldwide. Homeschooled students can register as private candidates to sit these exams at an approved test centre.

Homeschooling gives families control over pace and environment. A student who needs more time on one subject can take it. A student who is ready to move ahead can do so without waiting for the rest of a class.

There are social aspects to consider too. Online schools often run group lessons and collaborative projects, so students still interact with peers regularly. This is quite different from solo study at a kitchen table.

Here are the key things that typically happen when you are homeschooled:

• Lessons delivered at home or via an online school
• A recognised curriculum, set and tracked formally
• Live or pre-recorded teaching from qualified instructors
• Assignments submitted and marked with feedback
• Exams sat externally at an approved centre

If you have more questions about how online homeschooling works, visit our FAQ or contact us directly to speak with an adviser.