When Claire and her family packed up their London home for a new life in Dubai, their biggest concern wasn’t the move itself, it was schooling. Their children, 11-year-old Sam and 17-year-old Isla, had always thrived in the UK’s education system. The idea of an abrupt shift to a new curriculum, an unfamiliar language, or a costly international school felt daunting.
“We wanted stability,” Claire explains. “We didn’t want them to have to start over academically every time we moved, and we certainly didn’t want to pay upwards of £20,000 per year per child just to keep them on track. That’s when we discovered Minerva Virtual Academy.”
The Unique Challenges of Education for Expat Families
For expat families like Claire’s, one of the biggest hurdles is continuity in education. While local schools can offer a deep cultural immersion, their curricula often don’t align with long-term academic goals. International schools, meanwhile, provide an excellent education—but at a price that can rival university tuition. For families moving every few years, these options can feel like a compromise rather than a solution.
Online schooling offers an alternative that is both academically rigorous and financially sustainable. Minerva Virtual Academy provides a British curriculum—including IGCSEs and A Levels—at a fraction of the cost of international schooling. “It was a game changer for us,” Claire says. “Now, wherever we move, the kids’ education stays consistent, and we’re not paying an unsustainable amount for it.”
Keeping a Connection to Home
Another challenge many expat families face is maintaining a cultural connection to the UK. For Isla, who had grown up in a close-knit community, moving abroad meant leaving behind familiar friends, traditions, and even a way of learning that felt natural to her. “I was worried I wouldn’t fit in anywhere,” she admits.
But with MVA, she found that the UK-based teaching staff—95% of whom are still in the UK—helped maintain a sense of familiarity. “I still feel like I’m part of a British school. The teachers are so supportive and interesting, and with lots of them in UK, it just makes the whole experience really enjoyable.”
And she’s not alone. With 75% of students based in the UK, there’s a strong community of peers who share similar backgrounds and experiences. But as Minerva’s global student base continues to grow, families are also finding a new kind of connection—one that extends across borders. “We were surprised to find that there are other MVA families here in Dubai,” Claire says. “It’s been wonderful to meet up in person.”
Flexibility for Families on the Move
For many expat families, a rigid school schedule can be a challenge. Business travel, new time zones, and cultural adjustments often make traditional schooling feel restrictive.
For James and Hannah, a British family living in South Africa, this was a major factor in their decision to switch to online schooling for their two children. “We wanted our kids to learn at their own pace, but we also wanted the freedom to travel back to the UK when we needed to,” James explains.
With online schooling, students aren’t tied to a single location. Lessons can be attended from anywhere in the world, allowing families to travel freely without worrying about school absences or missed coursework. “Last summer, we spent three weeks in the UK visiting family, and the kids didn’t miss a single lesson,” says Hannah. “And we joined up with the big summer school trip in Hyde Park. It was a wonderful experience and that just wouldn’t have been possible with a traditional school.”
Staying Connected with a Consistent Learning Environment
One of the common concerns parents have about online schooling is whether their children will miss out on socialisation and extracurricular activities. But for Isla, the transition has been anything but lonely. “I actually feel like I’ve made more friends than I did in my old school,” she says. “The virtual clubs and group projects mean I’m always working with different people, and it’s been a great way to connect.”
MVA fosters a strong sense of community through virtual assemblies, extracurricular activities, and even real-world meetups for families who live near one another. “The idea that online schooling is isolating just isn’t true,” says James. “In many ways, our kids are more engaged with their peers now than they were before.”
A School That Moves With You
For families on the move, online schooling provides something that traditional education simply can’t: the ability to take your school with you, no matter where life leads. With a stable, high-quality curriculum, strong ties to the UK, and a growing global network of students and families, MVA is redefining what education looks like for expat children.
As Claire puts it, “I used to worry that moving abroad meant my kids’ education would always be in flux. Now, no matter where we go next, I know that part of their lives will stay constant. And for an expat family, that’s priceless.”
For more information on how Minerva Virtual Academy can support your family, get in touch today
Read more interviews and articles on the MumAbroad blog
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