How King’s InterHigh brings Sharmila’s family a passport to learning — from the US to Mexico to Spain

The hurdles of moving abroad

For Sharmila’s family, the decision to move from California, US to Oaxaca, Mexico wasn’t just about changing scenery — it was about embracing their ideal life. She and her husband were ready to build their dream home on a plot of land they owned in a small port town off the coast, but there was one major hurdle to overcome first: what to do about Corina and Dante’s education.

“We started thinking about schooling, and the house we’re building is in a small village,” recalls Sharmila of the family’s initial plans. “There aren’t good schools, and education is very important to us.” Plus, a lack of good schools in the area wasn’t the only concern they were facing. While the family knew they wanted a home base in Mexico, their family ties span as far as Spain. For that reason, among others, they knew they wanted to travel between countries a lot more often. “But again,” says Sharmila, “we didn’t want to affect the kids’ schooling.”

A school that met all the criteria

Any parent or caregiver who’s dreamed of moving abroad or travelling the world will know Sharmila’s worries well, but even without that added challenge, choosing the right school is a major decision in itself.

Corina, now entering Year 11, has always been a dedicated student, fully focused on learning and excelling in her schoolwork. Dante (entering Year 7), meanwhile, loves to play and enjoys an engaging style of learning. Not only did Sharmila want to find a style of education that would suit her mobile family, she also needed to find a school that would give her children the best learning experience for them.

So, there began the family’s deep dive into schooling options. “My husband is the one who came up with online schooling,” says Sharmila, though she wasn’t fully convinced herself at first. Like many mums, her mind initially went to the distance learning experience her children had during the pandemic, which was less than ideal. “But then we realised, okay, that was an enforcement of regular schools going online,” Sharmila recalls, “but it was true that there might be online schools that are good.”

Sharmila and her husband perused multiple virtual school options, including a school as far away as Australia. But, when they came across King’s InterHigh, they knew they’d found the right choice for a whole host of reasons — from expertise to community to curriculum.

Eventually, after reading reviews from other parents and watching YouTube interviews with our students, Sharmila and her family made the decision to join our school community.

The advantages of King’s InterHigh

For Sharmila, her husband, and her children, making the move to King’s InterHigh has had more than just one benefit. Naturally, “not missing school when we travel and being able to do what we want to do right now,” is a benefit Sharmila can’t overstate. The family currently travels often between Mexico and the United States, with Corina accompanying her mother on trips most often. No matter where she is, Sharmila says, “she can do school here, she can do school there”: something that wouldn’t have been possible without a flexible education.

But, it’s not just the flexibility that’s improved their lives — it’s the schooling itself, too. Alongside getting the typical school experiences they had in their previous physical schools (from joining clubs to interacting with their teachers), Corina and Dante are also learning topics that Sharmila is far more impressed with.

While some may have had hesitations about transitioning to a whole new curriculum, Sharmila says her children have adapted well — “it’s no big deal.” Coming from an international family background themselves, she and her husband didn’t feel they needed to stick to the US curriculum when looking for schools. And, in some ways, she sees the need to learn things like new spellings and vocabulary as a strength. “Our plans are to travel,” says Sharmila, “so the more resourceful they are, the better.”

A pathway to future success

In Sharmila’s view, what her children learn at King’s InterHigh goes beyond the typical knowledge you’d find in a classroom. Rather than being forced to follow a set path, she sees doors opening for her children to blaze their own path to success in the future.

On top of that, Sharmila says learning at King’s InterHigh is teaching her children a range of important skills for the future, from independence to the importance of dedication. This is of particular importance to Corina, who’s in some of her most crucial years of her education.

Right now, she’s entering the final year of her IGCSE studies, and the family already has a plan in place for when Corina finishes exams: the IB Diploma. In fact, that’s a big part of why Sharmila chose King’s InterHigh — the world’s first school to offer the IBDP online — to begin with. “She is extremely artistic,” says Sharmila of her daughter, “and she likes business too, so she’s pretty rounded and flexible.” With the broad and balanced curriculum of the IB Diploma Programme, Corina will be able to keep her options open for universities and careers all around the world.

In the meantime, armed with the support of her teachers, Corina has been working hard on acing her IGCSEs — including the subjects that aren’t her strongest. Last year, she joined our Physics Support Club, while Dante joined our Conservation Club.

School, life, and family

For students themselves, one of the great things about learning online is getting a healthy balance between studying at school and living life in the wider world. While we do offer a range of online clubs at King’s InterHigh, students also get plenty of downtime to spend with friends outside of school.

Most of Corina and Dante’s friends from outside of King’s InterHigh, for example, play sports, and that’s something the pair have been able to keep up with as well. Since they’re usually done with all their classes and assignments by 2 to 3:00pm, Sharmila says her children have plenty of time to get out and get active, just as they used to when they went to school in person. Dante loves karate and Corina enjoys aerial dance, both of which they take part in three days a week after school. The other two afternoons of the school week are spent swimming, which both of the children excel at.

For Sharmila, joining King’s InterHigh has also brought a change to the family’s dynamic. Since Corina and Dante have an early start to classes each day, Sharmila gets up with her children at the same time each morning so they can all work together. It’s her way of helping keep everyone motivated to stick to their routine, and Sharmila gets to see Dante engaging and participating in his live lessons.

While it’s been a big shift, it has unique upsides too. Now, for example, the kids can “get more involved in real life”; since the family works together in one central home office, Corina and Dante get to watch their mum at work and even share their own opinions on what she’s doing.

At the same time, Sharmila gets the benefit of being able to support her children without actually teaching them — a tricky task many parents find themselves faced with when they choose to homeschool around an international move. Dante, in particular, likes talking to his mum about what’s going on in class, and Sharmila’s able to answer his questions without needing to give her attention to teaching.

A word to other families

Alongside travelling between the US and Mexico now, Sharmila and her family also plan to start spending two to three months at a time in Europe. Their exciting lifestyle may be unique, but it’s not unusual; just like her, many parents across the US (and the globe) find themselves at a crossroads when it comes to balancing life with learning. For those families, Sharmila has some reassuring words: “There are good school options.”

Going on to explain her own experience, Sharmila says, “I was reluctant at the beginning when I heard ‘online education.’” But, after “doing the research,” she came to learn that wanting the best for her children’s education didn’t mean she needed to sacrifice their plans.