Shows
Grow Your Tutoring Business PodcastOvercoming Fear: Strategies from a Serial Entrepreneur for Taking Bold ActionSyd is a serial entrepreneur who has opened her virtual school UKVS as well as other online businesses.UK Virtual School supports children and families across the globe, and she is an inspirational guest. Syd was hosting a retreat for families in Morocco at the time of recording but found the time to come and talk to me about how she has grown her businesses and her personal skills.Like most of us, Syd feels fear when putting herself out there, but she takes and keeps on taking risks because of...
2024-01-1536 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E14 How to Homeschool - The 101 Guide to Kickstarting Learning at HomeUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 14 - How to Homeschool - The 101 Guide to Kickstarting Learning at Home
On this episode you'll be hearing from the founder of UK Virtual School, Syd.
Syd has 5 top tips for you today to optimise your homeschooling:
➡ Create a structure - Something as simple as a timetable for your child can ch...
2022-10-1027 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E13 Modern Life of a Musician - Touring Europe and TeachingUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 13 - Modern Life of a Musician - Touring Europe and Teaching
On this episode, you'll hear from Denis, a musician AND music teacher at UK Virtual School.
Denis talks to Syd about his time in Europe and how he spent 20 days touring the continent and how he got into that position in the...
2022-10-0328 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E12 A Year at UKVS - Student’s ReflectionsUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 12 - A Year at UKVS - Student's Reflections
On this episode, you'll hear from Zahira, a Student at UK Virtual School who is moving into Year 5.
Zahira talks to Syd about her experience at UK Virtual School and why she believes that UKVS is better than the previous online school that she atte...
2022-09-2617 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E11 KS1 Online Learning - How Does That Work?UK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 11 - KS1 Online Learning - How Does That Work?
On this episode, you'll hear from Helen, a Primary Teacher at UK Virtual School.
Helen talks to Syd about her experiences in teaching in a physical school compared to an online school and discusses some reasons why she prefers teaching online and how Key...
2022-09-1924 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E10 How Can Art Be Taught Online - The Benefits of a Creative CurriculumUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 10 - How Can Art Be Taught Online - The Benefits of a Creative Curriculum
On this episode you'll hear from Lucy, our Art teacher at UKVS.
Lucy thinks Online Learning can be great for Art lessons, here are 3 reasons why:
➡ Lucy can see every child's artwork on the screen at the sa...
2022-09-1225 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E09 Full-time Schooling to UK Virtual School - Why I Prefer Learning from HomeUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 9 - Full-time schooling to UK Virtual School - Why I prefer learning from home
On this episode, you'll hear from Iokasti, a student from UK Virtual School who recently joined the Youth Council.
Iokasti chats with Syd about why she believes online schooling is better than regular schooling at a 'state school', and...
2022-09-0524 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E08 Will my child feel isolated? - The Issues of SocialisationUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 8 - Will my child feel isolated? - The Issues of Socialisation
On this episode, you'll hear from Syd, the founder of UK Virtual School.
Many parents have an initial concern when enrolling their children in an online school - That of socialisation and isolation. During this talk, Syd will explain why this isn't...
2022-08-2917 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E07 From Inner City London to Online Teaching in Greece - The Beauty of Online SchoolingUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 7 - From Inner City London to Online Teaching in Greece - The Beauty of Online Schooling
On this episode, you'll meet Andromachi, who's a Maths teacher at UK Virtual School. Andromachi lives all the way in Greece, talks to kids all over the UK on a daily basis and works for a UK based scho...
2022-08-2228 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E06 The UKVS Youth Council on Video GamesUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 6- The UKVS Youth Council on Video Games
At UK Virtual school, it's important for everybody to be seen, heard and respected, during the episode, Syd passes podcast hosting duties over to the UKVS Youth Council, headed by Zak. They chose to speak about a subject they're all passionate about: Video games!
Durin...
2022-08-1518 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E05 Cross Cultural Fusion - The Power of OnlineUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 5 - Cross Cultural Fusion - The Power of Online
On this episode, you'll meet Hassan, who's the Arabic teacher at UK Virtual School. One of the advantages of learning languages at an online school is we can employ native speakers who share their culture and insight as well as their language.
During this ch...
2022-08-0824 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E04 A Day in the Life of a UKVS Student - Raif’s Journey into Secondary SchoolUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 4 - A Day in the Life of a UKVS Student - Raif's Journey into Secondary School
During this episode, you'll meet Raif, who's a student at UK Virtual School.
During this chat with Syd, you'll hear about his time in state schools and some of his issues with the traditional model of schoo...
2022-08-0134 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E03 I’m a new Home Ed Parent - First Experiences at UKVSUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 3 - I'm a New Home Ed Parent - First Experiences at UKVS.
On this episode, you'll meet Ebi, who's a parent of a child currently attending UK Virtual School.
During the chat with Syd, you'll hear all about the trials that Ebi and her child have gone through in previous school experiences and...
2022-07-2532 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E02 The Globe Trotting Teacher - From the Welsh valley to the Jungle!UK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 2 - The Globe Trotting Teacher: From the Welsh Valley to the Jungle!
During this episode, you'll meet Jemma, who's an English teacher at UKVS. She LOVES being part of the team because it gives her the ability to travel the world. During her chat with Syd, you'll hear one story about a snake in a play...
2022-07-1824 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS02E01 Online Schooling after Covid – The Advantages of Staying OnlineUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Season 2, Episode 1 - Online Schooling in a Post Covid World
During this episode, Syd runs though just a handful of the advantages of online schooling, even when Covid lockdowns are a thing of the past!
➡ It's brilliantly flexible and accommodates families who want to travel, and provides consistency for students.
➡ The worlds BEST and...
2022-07-1821 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSUK Virtual School : Season 2 TrailerUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
Here's a brief trailer to give you some insight into some of the upcoming shows. If you're new here, and haven't yet listened to Season One, there's plenty of content already on this podcast feed. Season 2 launches on Monday July 18th, 2022. Please use your podcast app to FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE, so you never miss an episode.
Mo...
2022-07-1104 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E14 UKVS The Struggles of Handwriting - Strategies to improve your Child‘s HandwritingUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#14 The Struggles of Handwriting
Strategies to improve your Child's Handwriting
This is a practically helpful episode of the podcast. If you're concerned about your child's handwriting, Syd will give you strategies and tactics to help them improve. Here are some of the key points:
Don't tackle it head on - If your child sits a...
2021-10-1816 min
Perfect Health & Bright Business Minds with Elaine GodleyElaine Godley talks to Syd Femtinos | Multi-Award Winning Educator | UK Virtual SchoolElaine Godley talks to Syd Femtinos, an incredible multi-award winning educator with a vision to disrupt education. Syd’s vision is to have an impact on the world through education and has worked with over 12,000 children over the last decade.
She is a big advocate of girls in STEM (she holds a MSci in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics) and won the Outstanding Woman in STEM award in 2019 for her outreach work.
Syd founded UK Virtual School in the middle of the pandemic. She wanted to provide an effective solution for home educating families that comb...
2021-10-1450 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E13 Teacher by Day, Astronomer by Night - Summer Hobby of a Physics TeacherUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#13 Teacher by Day, Astronomer by Night
Summer Hobby of a Physics Teacher
Aaron is a Maths and Physics teacher at UKVS and has a passion for all things Astronomy. During this chat, you'll hear about his Astrogazing evenings, the importance of being an authentic person as a teacher, and how the teachers of UK Virtu...
2021-10-1145 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E12 How We Cater for SEN Kids - A Parent & Teacher‘s insight into UKVSUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#12 How We Cater for SEN Kids
A Parent & Teacher's insight into UKVS
Ant's been a teacher with UK Virtual School since the start and he's seen it grow into what is today, and loves how it continues to grow. He says on this episode that UKVS “offers subjects to help students grow as people, not ju...
2021-10-0436 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E11 Do Online Classes Work for Primary? - Engaging Young Children in LearningUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#11 Do Online Classes Work for Primary?
Engaging Young Children in Learning
On this episode, you'll meet the brilliant and inspiring Kate, who's a teacher with UK Virtual School. You'll hear about the unique way she teaches English, and learn more about the methods she uses. Kate's covers many points, including:
The importance of the ch...
2021-09-2737 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E10 The Pandemic Converted Me - Why I Chose to Stick with Home Education with Dr. CatherineUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#10 The Pandemic Converted Me
Why I Chose to Stick with Home Education
On this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Catherine Steele, who chose UKVS during the pandemic. As soon as her daughter (Hope) started, it became clear that home education suited her better that her previous traditional school, so she's continued after lockdown. Catherine actual...
2021-09-2032 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E09 Space for Everyone - Student Perspective on Online SchoolingUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#9 Space for Everyone
Student Perspective on Online Schooling
Eight year old Hope is one of UK Virtual School's students. On this episode, you'll hear all about her hobbies, her plans for the 1,068 page book she's working on, and you'll hear her read the UKVS story "Space for Everyone" which helps students understand our values. To get...
2021-09-1327 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E08 The Teacher Who Lives in a Van - Flexibility of an Online SchoolUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#8 The Teacher Who Lives in a Van
Flexibility of an Online School
Hannah's a UKVS Science Teacher, she's also a New Zealander; which means she LOVES TO TRAVEL. She lives in her van and moves from beautiful location to location. We often talk about how home schooling fits in to the student's way of life...
2021-09-0635 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E06 How do Home Educated Kids Sit GCSEs? - A 101 Guide to Exams as a Home EducatorUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#6 How Do Home Educated Kids Sit GCSEs?
101 Guide to Exams as a Home Educator
On this sixth episode in season one, Syd will answer the most common question she hears from home educating families, or those who are considering home education as a route for their children. There can be a lot of misunderstanding aroun...
2021-08-2337 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E05 My Pandemic Homeschool Story - Why I Chose UK Virtual SchoolUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#5 My Pandemic Homeschool Story
Why I Chose UK Virtual School With Rae Richards
On the fifth episode in season one, you'll meet Home Ed Parent, Rae Richards. Rae is a Business & Style Identity Consultant, who works fulltime on her business. Like many parents, when Covid struck, the home schooling of her 3 children (aged 13,11 and 9) becam...
2021-08-1637 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E04 Why Home Educate? Understanding What‘s Best For Your ChildUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#4 Why Home Educate?
Understanding what's best for your child With Gabriela Galasinska
On this fourth episode of the podcast, you'll hear from Gabriela, who's kids are educated at home. Like many parents, when Covid hit, Gabriela started to teach her two children at home. They were both much happier, as neither of them enjoyed the tr...
2021-08-0913 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E03 Our Core Values - A School That Thinks DifferentlyUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#3 Our Core Values
A School That Thinks Differently with Syd
On this third episode of the show, you'll hear about how important values are at UKVS. Syd will drill down into our Core Values, which apply to all students and teachers, they are:
Growth Mindset
Curiosity
Diversity & Inclusion
Innovation
You'll hear each value...
2021-08-0221 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E02 An Education Revolution: Times Are Changing...UK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#2 An Education Revolution
Times Are Changing... with Syd
On this second episode of the show, you'll hear about why Syd created UK Virtual School, and how she truly believes other educators (online and offline), will follow in her footsteps, once there's an education revolution. You'll hear about many aspects of teaching, including:
The style...
2021-07-2622 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSS01E01 What Does Space Smell Like?UK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
#1 What Does Space Smell Like?
My Journey Through Education with Syd
In this episode you'll meet our Founder, Syd, and hear about her journey through education so far. You'll hear why after working in a traditional schooling environment, she became an "education disrupter", and embraced the importance of the enjoyment of learning.
When U...
2021-07-2623 min
UK Virtual School Podcast - UKVSUK Virtual School : Season 1 TrailerUK Virtual School isn’t just any online school – We dare to be different! We offer a flexible online British Education adapted for the modern world, catering for Year 1 to iGCSEs for Home Educating families, Expats, and World Schoolers.
In this podcast, we explore all things education and how we are very much in need of new innovative ways of schooling. Many online schools attempt to replicate the traditional schooling structure, which we know is outdated. In this podcast we celebrate some of the innovative things UK Virtual School (UKVS) has adapted to create an online school and...
2021-07-0503 min