Our Alumni

Bella Ramsey

Actress

Bella Ramsey is an English actor best known for her breakthrough role as Lyanna Mormont in Game of Thrones. They have since starred in lead roles in HBO’s The Last of Us and voiced characters in animated series. Known for their compelling performances and strong on-screen presence, Ramsey has quickly become a rising star in film and television. They joined King's InterHigh because they didn’t enjoy mainstream school. They said: "King's Interhigh is, in my opinion, one of the best things the internet can be used for. It’s great. I love it and recommend it to everyone."

We caught up with them a few years ago to understand their experience at our online school.

Ben Larg

Surfer

Ben Larg joined us in 2019. He is a big wave surfer and a Red Bull athlete, originally from Tiree, an island in Scotland. Ben made the decision to join King's InterHigh to gain the flexibility to chase his dreams of becoming a pro surfer while still receiving a quality education.

In 2023, one year on since he completed his studies, we've had the opportunity to catch up with Ben and delve deeper into his educational and professional journey.

Kieran Bjergstrom

Entrepreneur - Quantum Physics

Our alumnus Kieran Bjergstrom attended InterHigh from 2005 to 2008, completing his GCSEs at age 13. After graduating from our school, he pursued extensive higher education in quantum physics, earning a PhD by age 15, and now leads two companies: one focused on quantum technologies and another on sustainable marine practices.

We caught up with him to see how he is doing 17 years after he left us. Read all about it below.

Emiele Vaandrager

Intern at L’Oréal

Emiele Vaandrager attended King's InterHigh for her A Levels, during 2019 and 2021. She achieved incredible results in her A Level exams, including an A at Maths and Business, and A* in German. We caught up with her to see how life has been like after graduating from our school:


What first led you/your family to choose King’s InterHigh, and how did it suit your education needs at the time?

I spent most of my school years in Dubai following the IB curriculum before my family moved to Portugal. The school I attended there offered GCSEs, which I completed, but the A Level options were very limited. Subjects were grouped in ways that didn’t align with my interests.

King's InterHigh gave me the flexibility to study the subjects I wanted, including German, which wasn’t even an option at my previous school. Initially, I chose politics as one of my subjects but decided to drop politics and choose physics instead from Year 13. Using class recordings, I caught up on the entire first year of physics over the summer and joined the Physics regular class from the start of Year 13. The school’s structure made that possible and allowed me to follow the path I truly wanted.


Do you have a favourite memory or highlight from your time at King’s InterHigh?

Even though I studied during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, when trips and in-person meetups weren’t possible, I still built strong friendships. We stayed connected through group chats and Instagram and I’m still in touch with many classmates today. It’s great to see where everyone has ended up, it really is a global community!

One of my favourite moments was meeting up with an old classmate while on holiday. I had shared where I was on Instagram and it turned out they were nearby too, so we arranged to meet in person. That connection meant a lot.

How did studying with us help prepare you for your next steps after school?

The biggest advantage was learning independence and self-discipline. At King's InterHigh, teachers don’t always see you working directly, so you’re responsible for keeping yourself on track. That discipline carried over to university, especially when it came to doing pre-reading and preparing for classes. I noticed that some of my peers struggled with that, but for me, it already felt natural.

Once you left King’s InterHigh, what were your next steps?

I joined Forward College, in the founding cohort of a double bachelor’s programme that takes place across three countries in three years. I studied in Lisbon in Year 1, Paris in Year 2 and Berlin in Year 3. The programme combined two degrees -a Bachelor’s in Politics and InterNational Relations (designed by LSE and awarded by the University of London) and a Bachelor’s in Business and Leadership from Forward College itself. I graduated in June 2024 with a First in Business and Leadership and an upper second in Politics and International Relations.

And where are you now?

After graduating, I completed a 9 month internship with Schwarzkopf Professional, one of the leading brands in the global hair industry. I worked on training initiatives, online courses and live seminars (these were programmes designed for professional hairdressers). I’m now in Düsseldorf, interning with L’Oréal as a People Development and Learning intern. I’m keeping my options open about the future. A Master’s might be on the horizon but for now I am exploring different opportunities through these internships. At the moment, I like to say I’m living life six months at a time.

What advice would you give to current or future King’s InterHigh students?

If traditional schooling isn’t working for you, don’t be afraid to make the change. Online education might suit you better, and if it doesn’t, you can always return to traditional schooling. What matters most is recognising when something isn’t working and having the courage to choose differently. The transition can feel challenging, especially socially. Your network may shift, but it’s important to actively work on maintaining friendships and finding new connections. Self-discipline is also key and you need to create an environment where you can focus, not just log in from your bed or sofa.

I think that many families will have concerns around excessive screen time, but I found that it wasn’t excessive. Much of my studying involved taking notes, doing homework, and reading offline. We live in a world where technology is increasingly integrated into education and work and the important thing is to balance it with offline activities and time away from screens.

I had some great teachers at InterHigh who were supportive, engaging and genuinely invested in helping us to succeed.

Lillia Turner

Actress - EastEnders

Lillia Turner is a rising star in British television, known for her role as Lily Slater in EastEnders, for which she won Best Young Performer at the British Soap Awards. Cast at age 11, she has taken on some of the show’s most challenging storylines with dedication, bringing authenticity and depth to her character. Since joining King’s InterHigh around 2021, Lillia has balanced her acting career with her education, using our flexible online learning model to manage both her studies and her busy performance schedule.

Read more about how she found this balance and her experience at King's InterHigh below.

Holly Peckitt

PhD Student - Critical and Creative Writing

Holly attended King's InterHigh between 2015 and 2017 and studied her A-Levels with us. She completed her A-Levels in English Literature, Media Studies and Sociology, and got AAC results which she was (and still is) delighted by! We caught up with her to learn more about her experience.

1. What first led you/your family to choose King’s InterHigh, and how did it suit your education needs at the time?

I had just completed my GCSEs in a traditional school setting. However, I had struggled with anxiety throughout secondary education due to the poor behaviour of others in the classroom. Whilst my classes were filled with many wonderful students, the minority caused a great deal of disruption to our learning. Additionally, I'd developed some health issues, which meant that at the time, I had often been unable to attend school in Year 11 physically. As I approached A-Levels, my family and I discovered King's InterHigh. We all believed it would provide me with the space to heal and recover at a crucial point in my studies. We contacted the school and were instantly put at ease by staff who weren't judgmental and just wanted to help.

2. Do you have a favourite memory or highlight from your time at King’s InterHigh?

The highlight of my time at King's InterHigh was definitely my English Literature classes with Marilyn Rankin. Each lesson was filled with discussion, engaging tasks and all of the care and wisdom you could want in a teacher. I learnt so much in her lessons and will always be incredibly grateful to her for her guidance and support.

3. How did studying with us help prepare you for your next steps after school?

Studying online helped me prepare for university and proved to be an asset on my UCAS application, as it demonstrated my ability to work independently and manage my own time effectively, a skill that some students may struggle with. When the Covid-19 Pandemic shut down universities, I was not bewildered by online learning as some of my contemporaries were - in fact, I fell back into the same rhythms as I had when studying at King's InterHigh. I am very fortunate to have been in a position where I was adaptable to different modes of learning, all thanks to my time at the school. Having the freedom and flexibility of King's InterHigh allowed me to flourish both physically and mentally, proving myself to be a determined student before attending university. King's InterHigh enables students to prepare for the next steps at their own pace in a supportive environment, ultimately working in their favour for a brighter future. The skills I developed at King's InterHigh are still aiding me today, eight years after I left, and are helping me achieve my goals as both an academic and a creative.

4. Once you left King’s InterHigh, what were your next steps?

Following my departure from King's InterHigh, I moved to Bangor, North Wales, and I began studying for my BA (Hons) in English Literature with Creative Writing at Bangor University. This had been my first-choice university, and with the help of King's InterHigh, I was able to achieve my dream of attending Bangor, a place that has shaped my life so much. At Bangor, I became chair of the Writers' Guild, a society for budding writers, and was secretary of the Literary Society. I also acted as a sub-editor for the Books and Travel sections of Seren, the English-language student newspaper.

5. And where are you now?

Funnily enough, I am still at Bangor University! Following graduating from my BA, I completed my MA in English Literature before taking a gap year to focus on writing and gaining qualifications as a proofreader and copy editor. In 2023, I returned to Bangor to commence my PhD in Critical and Creative Writing. I am now in my third year of my PhD, which focuses on writing and researching family sagas in historical fiction, and I am hoping to complete my doctorate by 2027. I’m now also a published poet across several magazines and online journals, and I am in the process of having my first academic research paper published in Canada. My hopes for the future are to qualify as a Doctor of Creative Writing, to become a published novelist, and to help teach others about creative writing and the craft of storytelling.

6. What advice would you give to current or future King’s InterHigh students?

My most important piece of advice would be to make the most of every minute of your time at King's InterHigh. I know I certainly do, and I will carry the experience of studying at the school throughout my life. Enjoy your time at King's InterHigh - savour it! Ask questions, connect with your peers, work hard and appreciate the lifestyle that studying online affords you - enjoy it. One day, you will look back and wish you were there again, learning in a fantastic and nurturing environment, and you will miss the time you spent in the classroom dearly. It is an invaluable and endlessly rewarding experience that you are very lucky to have!

Amber Kirk-Ford

Publicity Executive for Waitrose and John Lewis

Amber started at King’s InterHigh in March 2013, halfway through Year 9, and left in the summer of 2017 after completing her A Levels. She got an A in English Literature and Media Studies at A Level. She chose to do those subjects because she has always been very creative and knew she wanted to work in those fields.

We caught up with her to learn more about her experience.

1. What first led you/your family to choose King’s InterHigh, and how did it suit your education needs at the time?

Halfway through secondary school I began to struggle with anxiety, to the point where I could no longer physically go to school. King’s InterHigh seemed like the perfect solution, allowing my education to continue at a high standard whilst giving me the time and space to work on my mental health.

2. Do you have a favourite memory or highlight from your time at King’s InterHigh?

Thanks to King's InterHigh's flexibility, I was able to explore my own interests and entrepreneurship whilst studying, which really helped my development and my career. I also enjoyed getting to know people from all over the world, and shared classes with some interesting people, some of whom were travelling, or working in fascinating careers.

3. How did studying with us help prepare you for your next steps after school?

I didn’t know it then but King’s InterHigh was ahead of its time and greatly prepared me for a future of remote/hybrid working! Most people experienced this for the first time during Covid, but I felt lucky to have already got used to this way of working several years beforehand thanks to King’s InterHigh. Whilst some people still struggle with remote/hybrid working, or managing their own time and staying disciplined, I had the opportunity to adapt to this way of working years earlier than most.

4. Once you left King’s InterHigh, what were your next steps?

I continued freelance writing for global publications, something I started doing while at InterHigh. I also completed a marketing and publicity internship at Little Tiger (a publishing house in London). I later joined my local Waitrose as a Supermarket Assistant, where I quickly worked my way up to Head Office, joining the Waitrose Social Marketing team. As part of that role, I got to work on national campaigns and new product launches. My favourite project included training over 200 shop-based employees to launch social media accounts for their shops. It was such a fun project that led to incredible results and they’re all still going today!

5. And where are you now?

After a couple of years in the Waitrose Social Marketing team, I became a Publicity Executive for Waitrose and John Lewis where I manage internal digital marketing. No day is the same, and my work spans everything from graphic design, website management and copywriting to social media, email marketing, video editing, and more. I love the variety! When I have time off, I love to travel the world and experience other cultures.

6. What advice would you give to current or future King’s InterHigh students?

Someone once told me that ‘the jobs that will be available to you in the future may not exist yet’ - and that ended up being true for me, as social media was nowhere near as big as it is now. Do your best, maintain your discipline, learn as much as you can, and keep an open mind – you are potentially working towards something you can’t yet imagine!

7. Anything else you would like to share. For example, a favourite teacher who made an impact, a standout project or class you remember, or a short “Happy 20th Anniversary” message to King’s InterHigh.

All of my teachers were fantastic, but I have to give a shout out to Marilyn Rankin who taught me A Level English Literature. Marilyn’s kindness, encouragement, and expertise helped me succeed at a really challenging time.

Sîoned Davies

Market Research and Data Analyst Executive

Sîoned Davies was a King's InterHigh student between 2011 - 2016, and completed her GCSEs and A-Levels with us. At GCSE, she got an A* in Maths, AB in DA science, and at A-levels, she got an A* in Maths, A in Further Maths, and a B in Geography. We caught up with her to learn about her experience:

1. What first led you/your family to choose King’s InterHigh, and how did it suit your education needs at the time?

My mum wanted to find an alternative high school for me - the nearest high school to us at the time didn’t have the best reputation, and she felt that I wouldn’t have a good time there. After a bit of searching, she came across a few online schools. The appeal was that an internet school would allow for a lot more flexibility. I could learn at a pace and in a way that worked best for me.
The Interhigh Weekends were always a highlight - it was a lot of fun to meet the people who I only saw on a screen. One of the best moments was when I won second place in a writing competition the school held. While I love creative writing, English was never one of my strong subjects at school, so winning second place was such a surprise. I got a signed book and a few small trinkets (like badges and a bookmark).

2. Do you have a favourite memory or highlight from your time at King’s InterHigh?

Studying at King's Interhigh allowed me to grow into who I am now without the added pressures that come from the social side of school. Being autistic, I struggle at times to understand things like social cues or social situations, so mainstream school could cause a lot of stress at times. King’s Interhigh allowed me to build up my own confidence and discover who I am in my own time, which I will always be grateful for. While unforeseen at the time, it also helped when COVID hit and my university moved online. While a lot of my friends struggled with the transition, I already had the skills needed to learn optimally in that kind of environment.

3. How did studying with us help prepare you for your next steps after school?

After leaving King's Interhigh, I went to a nearby Sixth Form to study my A-levels. While my future career plans changed quite regularly at this age, the majority required a university degree. We thought it would be best for me to get used to an in-person school environment during A-levels so I would be more prepared for university. It was a tough transition at first, but I soon got used to the new environment.

4. Once you left King’s InterHigh, what were your next steps?

After passing my A-levels, I went to the University of Essex where I completed my Bachelor’s in Mathematics (in which I achieved a First) and my Master’s in Statistics (where I got a Distinction). After graduation, I got a job as a Market Research and Data Analyst Executive at the accounting firm Price Bailey. I’ve been with the firm for over two years now and I am really enjoying it. My most recent project called Bridging the Divide involved quantifying the gap between MPs and Business Leaders when it came to Parliament’s understanding and delivery of business needs. For this report, I completed the full analysis of the collected survey data and collaborated with my team on the writing of the report. Based on the findings of this report, we hosted an amazing event with Alastair Campbell as the main speaker. The response to this report has been unfounded, with members of government contacting us to share their compliments and an overwhelming positive reaction from our clients.

6. What advice would you give to current or future King’s InterHigh students?

My advice boils down to a favourite motto within my team at work, ‘work hard and play hard’. I remember that the future seemed so scary at that age, I had no clue what I really wanted to do as a career and it all seemed so daunting. While there have definitely been tough and stressful moments, there have been more rewarding ones. I hope all current and future students can enjoy their time at King’s Interhigh while growing their knowledge.

7. Anything else you would like to share. For example, a favourite teacher who made an impact, a standout project or class you remember, or a short “Happy 20th Anniversary” message to King’s InterHigh.

Happy 20th Anniversary! It was strange to think about how long it’s been since I’ve been there. It’s amazing to see how much the school has changed and grown. I hope that there are many more good years to come.

Thomas Appleby

Event Organiser

Thomas Appleby attended King's InterHigh between 2008 and 2013, having briefly returned in 2015 and departed in 2016. We caught up with him to learn more about his experience.

1. What first led you/your family to choose King’s InterHigh, and how did it suit your education needs at the time?

My family chose King’s InterHigh because we were looking for a more flexible option that would fit around my schedule and allow me to learn in a way that suited me. At the time, I needed an environment where I could focus better without distractions from a ‘typical’ classroom and still have access to qualified teachers and a wide range of subjects. King’s InterHigh gave me the independence to manage my learning while still having the support I needed.

2. Do you have a favourite memory or highlight from your time at King’s InterHigh?

My favourite memory from my time would have to be the Hollywood Ball of 2013, it was such a great time seeing fellow classmates and friends! One thing I find quite funny about it is the fact back in early 2015 (before I returned for my second stint) for the Interhigh Weekend I met so many lovely students, parents and teachers and they all knew of who I was and we all shared a good laugh over my rather ‘unique’ walk I did to enter the ball. I think for a favourite highlight though, would have to be when I was involved in the school plays either when acting or being behind the scenes and making sound effects and music!

3. How did studying with us help prepare you for your next steps after school?

Studying with King’s InterHigh really prepared me for life after school because it taught me to be independent and take responsibility for my own learning. Managing my own timetable and working online gave me strong organisation and self-motivation skills, which I now use every day in my job. It also made the transition to higher education smoother, since I was already used to using digital tools and adapting to different ways of learning.

4, Once you left King’s InterHigh, what were your next steps?

After my time at King’s Interhigh, I went onto college and University to study Media as well as Film and TV production.

5. And where are you now?

This all led to me becoming an event organiser/social media manager as well as being a Podcast host for ‘The MJX Podcast’.

6. What advice would you give to current or future King’s InterHigh students?

Don’t stress if it feels different at first—everyone adjusts at their own pace. Stay on top of your work by keeping a routine, and don’t be shy about asking teachers for help—they’re always there for you. Also, try to take part in activities, it really makes the experience more fun and helps you connect with students. Most importantly, enjoy the flexibility—use it to explore your interests and make the most of your time here.

7. Anything else you would like to share. For example, a favourite teacher who made an impact, a standout project or class you remember, or a short “Happy 20th Anniversary” message to King’s InterHigh.

Happy 20th Anniversary, King’s InterHigh! Thank you for two decades of inspiring, supporting, and empowering students around the world. On a personal note, I’m so grateful for the opportunities and support you’ve given me!