DfE accredited online schools
17 online providers hold the Department for Education's accreditation. 8 of them only take pupils placed by a council or school, which leaves 9 that a family can apply to directly. The scheme is voluntary: a school without it isn't breaking any rule.
What it is
The Online Education Accreditation Scheme started taking applications on 20 March 2023. It is non-statutory: no online school has to join. A provider that applies gets suitability checks and then a two-day visit from Ofsted, which publishes a report saying which of the DfE's standards it met. If it meets all of them, the DfE accredits it for three years. The standards cover the curriculum, teaching, safeguarding, pupils' welfare and how the school is run.
It only covers children living in England, and only providers with premises in England teaching at least one full-time pupil here. A school based abroad can't apply however good it is.
What it doesn't mean
Accreditation doesn't make an online school a registered school, and it doesn't change your legal position: a child at an online school in England is still, in law, home educated, and you're still the one responsible for their education (DfE guidance for parents). Ofsted doesn't grade online schools the way it grades ordinary ones; the report says whether each standard was met. And the DfE tells councils and schools that buy online places to use only accredited providers. It gives families no such instruction.
Accredited providers families can join
| Provider | Ages | Accredited | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia High SchoolPast its expiry date but still listed as accredited; re-inspection due. | 4 to 18 | Oct 2023 | 26 October 2026 |
| International British Online School | 6 to 19 | May 2024 | 3 May 2027 |
| Minerva's Virtual Academy | 11 to 18 | Jul 2024 | 17 July 2027 |
| Eton Academy | 7 to 17 | Oct 2024 | 25 October 2027 |
| King's InterHigh | 7 to 18 | Jan 2026 | 30 January 2029 |
| Wendover Online SchoolAn earlier visit in October 2024 did not meet every standard. | 6 to 19 | Mar 2026 | 30 March 2029 |
| Boland Companies Ltd (Cambridge Online School, Wrenmere Oxford, Acorns to Oaks, Eureka Learning)An earlier visit in January 2025 did not meet every standard. | 5 to 18 | Mar 2026 | 30 March 2029 |
| TLC LIVE Online School | 11 to 16 | Apr 2026 | 24 April 2029 |
| Nisai Virtual AcademyAn earlier visit in December 2025 did not meet every standard. | 11 to 25 | Jun 2026 | 30 June 2029 |
Accredited providers that take council and school placements
These teach children whose council or school has arranged and paid for their place, often after exclusion, illness or a long gap out of school. If you think one would suit your child, ask your council's education team.
- TCES National Online School, ages 9 to 25, accredited Dec 2023
- Academy21, ages 9 to 16, accredited Mar 2024
- EDClass, ages 11 to 16, accredited May 2024
- Riverside Virtual College, ages 14 to 16, accredited Aug 2024
- Five Rivers Online School, ages 6 to 18, accredited May 2025
- Tute Education, ages 11 to 16, accredited Aug 2025
- Purple Ruler, ages 11 to 16, accredited Nov 2025
- Chiron Online Education Platform, ages 11 to 16, accredited May 2026
Visited but not accredited
Several providers failed their first visit and passed a later one (we note them above). One we compare is not accredited after its visit: Oxford Online School (Ofsted visit, 12 and 13 February 2025).
How to check a school yourself
The government's own list is on Get Information about Schools: search for the school's name and look for "Online provider" and an accreditation date, or open the links below. If a school says it is accredited and isn't there, ask it for its URN.
- Sophia High School on GIAS (URN 149905)
- TCES National Online School on GIAS (URN 150162)
- Academy21 on GIAS (URN 150163)
- International British Online School on GIAS (URN 150164)
- EDClass on GIAS (URN 150541)
- Minerva's Virtual Academy on GIAS (URN 150780)
- Riverside Virtual College on GIAS (URN 150235)
- Eton Academy on GIAS (URN 150747)
- Five Rivers Online School on GIAS (URN 150617)
- Tute Education on GIAS (URN 151745)
- Purple Ruler on GIAS (URN 152279)
- King's InterHigh on GIAS (URN 151867)
- Wendover Online School on GIAS (URN 152243)
- Boland Companies Ltd (Cambridge Online School, Wrenmere Oxford, Acorns to Oaks, Eureka Learning) on GIAS (URN 152251)
- TLC LIVE Online School on GIAS (URN 151523)
- Chiron Online Education Platform on GIAS (URN 152047)
- Nisai Virtual Academy on GIAS (URN 152556)
List checked 2 November 2026.