Minerva's Virtual Academy vs Sophia High School
Both schools' own figures for 2026/27, read on 2 November 2026: what a year costs with the registration fee and any VAT added, how much is taught live, and who has checked them.
The first year's cost
| Minerva's | Sophia High | |
|---|---|---|
| Key Stage 3 | £9,365Years 7 to 9 | £13,078Years 7 to 9 |
| GCSE | £9,365Years 10 and 11 | £16,246IGCSE, Years 10 and 11 |
| A level | £9,365Sixth form | £16,246A level, Years 12 and 13 |
The year's fee plus the one-off registration fee, with VAT added where the school adds it for UK families. Exams are extra at both unless we say otherwise below.
- At Key Stage 3, Minerva's is £3,713 cheaper in the first year (£9,365 against £13,078).
- At GCSE, Minerva's is £6,881 cheaper in the first year (£9,365 against £16,246).
- At A level, Minerva's is £6,881 cheaper in the first year (£9,365 against £16,246).
Side by side
| Minerva's | Sophia High | |
|---|---|---|
| Lessons | Live and recorded. 2 to 3 live lessons a day plus self-paced work, and a weekly one-to-one mentor session | Live lessons. Live lessons Monday to Thursday between 8am and 4pm UK time; Fridays are for projects and enrichment |
| Class size | Not published | Up to 8 |
| Recorded | Yes | Not stated |
| Ages | 11 to 18 | 4 to 18 |
| Qualifications | IGCSE (mainly Pearson Edexcel) and some GCSEs; International A level (Pearson Edexcel, OCR, Cambridge); EPQ | English National Curriculum; Pearson Edexcel International GCSE; International A level |
| Registration | None published | £100 |
| Exams | Extra, paid to the exam boards: the school's own list says £200 to £450 for Year 11 exams and about £600 per A level. Year 11 can sit Pearson exams at home. | Not included. Most pupils sit Pearson exams at home with remote invigilation, "from £150 per paper plus the standard entry fee". |
| Leaving | Not published on the pages we read. | Not published on the pages we read. |
| DfE accreditation | DfE accredited Jul 2024 | DfE accredited Oct 2023 |
Minerva's Virtual Academy
One price for every year, £9,365 with the deposit and subscription in it, so it is dear for Year 7 and middling for A level. The model is a few live lessons a day plus work on your own, with a mentor each week. Popular with families of anxious or neurodivergent children. Full Minerva's fees and details.
Sophia High School
Small classes of 6 to 8 and over 25 hours of live lessons a week, at the top of the price range: a UK family pays £16,146 for an IGCSE year once VAT is added. One of the first schools the DfE accredited, and its accreditation is up for renewal now. Full Sophia High fees and details.
Get next year's fees
Schools publish new fees between spring and summer. Leave your email and we'll write once, when every school's 2027/28 fees are checked, then delete your address.
Sources
- 2026/27 annual, termly and monthly fees, read 2 November 2026.
- exam arrangements, read 2 November 2026.
- sixth form price "from £8,830", MVA Flex £6,490, read 2 November 2026.
- SEND figures, read 2 November 2026.
- DfE accreditation 17 Jul 2024 to 17 Jul 2027, read 2 November 2026.
- 2026/27 fees, "+VAT for UK residents", extra subject price, live hours, read 2 November 2026.
- registration fee and deposit, read 2 November 2026.
- exam arrangements, read 2 November 2026.
- DfE accreditation 26 Oct 2023 to 26 Oct 2026, read 2 November 2026.