Brave Generation Academy (BGA) is a non-traditional school for teenagers consisting of a hybrid education model. BGA remote combines the best of the online world with offline learning experiences, using technology to leverage education and to offer a personalised, self-directed, flexible and affordable education for Learners and families.
BGA has physical Hubs around the world, which have been specially designed to feel like co-working spaces where Learners spend time each day. They have also recently introduced BGA Remote, a fully online option for young people who are not based near a Hub or travel regularly. We spoke with Content Marketing Manager Tatiana da Silva to learn more about this unique remote school and the benefits of this type of education for young people.
Brave Generation Academy Remote –
A global hybrid school without physical boundaries
How did Brave Generation Academy come to be founded?
Brave Generation Academy (BGA) was founded by Tim and Lidia Vieira during the pandemic, as they watched their three children, all of different ages, sitting around the same table learning on their computers while helping each other, guided by their good friend and Rugby Coach, Mr. Lorne King, who was a teacher at an International school. Having always dreamed of changing education, BGA’s Model was born from seeing their kids collaborate and support each other, regardless of their curriculum and age, and how Mr. King kept them motivated and taught them to have self discipline to stay on track.
Can you tell us a little about your own background and your experience of working with BGA?
I started my journey at BGA pretty early on, back in 2021, after joining a walk that Tim does annually on the 10th of June to celebrate Portugal Day. Tim was looking for someone to help with BGA’s marketing, and I was looking to start a Bachelor’s in Marketing. Tim asked if I was interested in joining the team and also offered me a scholarship to pursue my degree at the same time. Before I knew it, less than a month later, I had started my degree and joined BGA as a Marketing Assistant. This role gave me the privilege of working and studying simultaneously, bridging the gap between theory and practice. I completed my BA in Marketing at the end of last year and have since taken on the role of Content Marketing Manager at BGA.
How would you define the philosophy and values that drive Brave Generation Academy?
I would say that it’s really about being brave; our team, the Learners and their families. There are many challenges when it comes to changing education, and bravery has been in our DNA since the beginning. We have heard a lot of ‘this is not possible’, yet here we are.
It takes bravery from the Learners to go deep into self-discovery and make their own choices. It’s a big shift from the traditional model, where you have to follow a designed path, that might not necessarily fit. It takes bravery from their families to take the first step and make the change. It takes bravery from the team to continue dreaming bigger, and believe in a world where quality education can reach even the most remote places. This is also why you hear the “Be Brave” that is so often associated with BGA.
What curriculum and qualifications does BGA offer?
BGA offers both secondary and higher education:
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Secondary Education:
BGA offers both the American and the British Curriculum. The American curriculum is offered through a partnership with the eCampus Academy and US University Pathways. It allows our Learners to earn a US high school diploma and enrol in an American college or university. The British Curriculum is offered by several exam boards and BGA partners with Pearsons. Upon completion of this curriculum, the Learners sit their A-Levels, with which they can apply directly to most universities in the world.
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Higher or Tertiary Education:
Our UP Programme, (Unique Pathway) allows Learners from the age of 16+ to fast track their bachelor’s degree, after successfully completing their international GCSEs or an equivalent qualification. We offer bachelor’s degrees in Business Management, Computing, Education, and Sports and Leisure. UP is accredited by the ATHE, a global awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual and other UK and international regulators since 2011.
You offer a mix of online and offline learning through your BGA Hubs – can you tell us more? Where are your physical hubs located?
We are currently present in 7 countries – Portugal, Spain, Mozambique, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and the USA – with over 45 Hubs in total. Alternatively, Learners have the option of BGA Remote, which they can join no matter their location. Nevertheless, when we have enough Remote Learners from a specific region, our goal is to open a Hub there to facilitate these Learners and be able to give them the Hybrid experience as well.
Can you describe a typical BGA remote learner? Where can students attend from and are there any limits to their geographical location?
Because of its personalised model, BGA is truly for anyone. BGA’s unique approach to education has already proven itself to be a fantastic option for Learners, as it equips them not only with academics, but with important skills that allow them to thrive in the future. If a Learner is already independent, self-aware, and motivated on their educational journey, they are a BGA Learner. If not, they will benefit from BGA and learn to take real ownership of their education and discover what they love.
BGA’s model has already been approved by and benefited so many families. As BGA is physically present in the 7 countries mentioned above, BGA Remote allows even more Learners from all over the world to benefit from the BGA model, until we’re able to open a Hub in their area.
What does a typical day or routine look like for Fully Remote Learners?
Each Learner’s routine is different and tailored to their individual needs and interests. We have a diverse community of remote Learners—some are academic, others are sporty, creative, or even nomadic, traveling frequently. While Learners won’t be physically present at the Hub, it’s still important for them to engage virtually with their peers and Learning Coaches daily. This interaction helps them stay connected, receive support, and stay motivated.
We expect remote Learners to dedicate at least 5 hours a day to their studies and interactions via BGA Remote. Learners are free to structure their day according to their own schedule, ensuring a balance between passions and academics. For example, if you’re a surfer, you can catch the best waves and then log-on either before or after you surf. This flexibility allows you to pursue your interests while staying on track academically, creating a routine that aligns perfectly with your lifestyle.
What sets BGA apart from other online schools?
The flexibility, support and global community.
Flexibility for Learners:
BGA does not run over an academic year. Learners can set their own goals and take vacations when and how they would like to, following their own pace and also allowing families the flexibility to take vacations when they want to, and not being limited due to their children having school holidays. This is ideal for both Learners and their families. Learners also have more choice in terms of their curriculum and subject choices, which allows them to focus on both academics as well as their passions beyond academics.
Support at Brave Generation Academy:
At BGA, Learners have constant support from their Learning Coaches and Course Managers, in the Hybrid and also Remote model. They have daily contact and weekly 1×1 meetings with their Learning Coaches to help stay motivated and keep track of their study timelines, being guided toward their passions and objectives. Course Managers, which are our subject expertees, are also available via chat, forum, 1×1 meetings and workshops they organise for all Learners to participate in.
The BGA Global Community:
Besides the fact that all Learners, Hybrid or Remote, can visit our physical Hubs around the world. Learners are able to connect with their peers online, no matter where they are, we have started buddy programmes, online clubs, and study sessions for Learners to meet and get to know each other.
You place a huge emphasis on community. How have you fostered such a strong sense of community within an online education environment?
We do not separate the online community from the offline. Peer-to-peer interaction and Hub participation is also a part of the Key Development Areas (KDAs) from the Remote Learners, to connect with each other, interact in their online Hubs and experience BGA as a whole. There are also many activities we’ve created in order for Learners to feel integrated, such as:
- The BGA Buddy Programme. When a new Learner joins BGA Remote, a Learner from our Hybrid model is connected as their buddy. As a buddy they are responsible to help them feel welcome and integrated, as well as help them to understand BGA and feel supported by their peers.
- Online meetings are hosted with the Remote Learners from all around the world to catch up and for them to get to know each other.
- Online clubs that Learners from both models are welcome to join.
- Minecraft Education is used as a fun educational activity together in a virtual environment.
- Build Week is hosted once every sprint for Learners. This is a week-long break from academics when Learners familiarise themselves with everything, benefit from the activities mentioned above, and enjoy team building activities to help bring them closer.
- Lorne, also known as Mr.King, is BGA’s Head of Student Affairs. Lorne has meetings with all our Learners regularly, to really build a connection and get to know them as well as their history when it comes to their experience at school.
How do you facilitate connections and friendships between learners as part of a fully online education?
We make many efforts for BGA to be a balance, being both strong academically and fun for our Learners at the same time, no matter their mode. Our Virtual Hubs are facilitated via Microsoft Teams, allowing us to be dynamic while building our online community. We want our Remote Learners to be as excited to login to teams in the morning as they would be arriving at a physical Hub.
A key aspect of remote education is making school more accessible than ever before. What barriers can BGA Remote help to overcome?
BGA’s Model can be delivered anywhere with internet access and independently of the Remote or Hybrid Model, the academic part is always delivered online. This allows us to offer quality education with no geographical constraints. Besides that, the Course Managers – our subject experts – are also online and accessible to all BGA Learners. The Learning Coaches are trained to understand the Learner’s needs, how to guide Learners in their journey and understand our model, vision, values.
BGA makes high quality education more accessible, creating more opportunities for youngsters around the world. We also currently have a partnership with Brave Future, an NGO that helps us deliver quality education for free, making education even more accessible in some regions where this might not be possible. We’re also proud that together with them we can offer scholarships to more than 35% of our Learners.
What aspect of BGA Remote do you and the team feel most excited about?
After experiencing and seeing the positive impact that BGA has had on so many Learners and families, it was previously difficult to not be able to take certain Learners due to where they lived and not having a physical Hub present in their location. Remote has now eliminated this factor as it allows young people from all over the world to join us, irrespective of whether they’re based near a Hub. It has also allowed us to open Hubs based on demand, making it easier for us to see where we should open next.
What does the BGA admissions process involve?
Our admission process is designed to be straightforward, transparent, and Learner-centric. Let’s walk through the steps to get started:
- Attend an Individual Meeting. It all begins with a conversation. Schedule an individual meeting with a friendly member of our BGA team to learn more about BGA Remote’s innovative approach to education. We’re here to answer your questions and provide insights into our learning model.
- Submit the Application Form. Ready to take the next step? Once you’ve explored our offerings, the Admissions Team will send you our application form. It’s a simple process, ensuring that we have the necessary details to move forward.
- Receive a Personalised Quote and Payment Details. Following the submission of your application, you’ll receive a follow-up email within 48 hours. In this email, you’ll find a personalised quote and a link to complete the fee payment. We aim to make this process as smooth as possible, ensuring you have all the necessary details at your fingertips.
- Submit the Signed Personalised Quote. Once you’ve reviewed the personalised quote and feel comfortable with our terms, go ahead and sign it. This signifies your official commitment to joining our BGA Remote community.
- Provide Proof of Payment. Follow the link in the follow-up email to pay the relevant fees. The next step is to submit proof of payment for the fees associated with your chosen programme. This finalises the financial aspect of the admissions process.
- Book an Onboarding Meeting. Almost there! At BGA Remote we believe in personalising education. After receiving your proof of payment, we’ll provide the initial instructions for getting set up on our platform alongside a link for you to book an onboarding meeting.
- Attend the Onboarding Meeting. During this meeting, the Learner will have the chance to connect with our team and their Learning Coach. It’s an essential step in understanding your child’s unique needs and aspirations.
- Get Ready for Day One:
Excitement is building! After the onboarding meeting takes place, our team will grant the Learner extended access to the academic content on our platform. It’s everything you need to ensure a smooth start to your Learner’s educational journey with us.
Where can a prospective learner and their family find out more?
They can visit our website and contact our Admissions Team at contact@bravegenerationacademy.com.
Read more about Brave Generation Academy Hub in Valencia on the MumAbroad blog
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