Welcome to the new edition of the Cambridge International Online Schools Newsletter!
In this edition, we celebrate a major milestone for online learning, share new research on future-ready skills, provide updates on remote invigilation trials and highlight upcoming events and opportunities for our online school community. You can find previous newsletters here.
Celebrating a milestone
Cambridge has reached an exciting shared milestone: more than 10,000 learners are now studying online at Cambridge-approved online schools for the first time. This rapid growth reflects rising global demand for flexible, high-quality education — and, importantly, the collective commitment, expertise and hard work of our approved online schools, earning the trust of students and families worldwide.
Matt James, head of online education in the international network, reflects:
“We began registering online schools in November 2021 and it’s been wonderful to see the growth in numbers year on year. We are now working to understand better how online students perform in exams compared with their peers at traditional schools, and exploring how we can support online learners more effectively as digital exams become more widely available.”
This momentum arrives alongside the release of Cambridge International’s new report, Preparing learners to thrive in a changing world, which draws on the perspectives of thousands of students and teachers worldwide. The report highlights that future success depends not only on strong academic knowledge but also on core skills such as self-management, communication, critical thinking, collaboration and adaptability.
What’s especially encouraging is how closely these “future-ready” skills align with the online learning experience. Cambridge online learners routinely build independence, disciplined time management, digital communication skills and adaptability — strengthening the very attributes the report identifies as essential.
Together, this milestone and the new research reinforce a shared message: through close collaboration between Cambridge and its approved online schools, online education is helping learners prepare confidently for both their exams and an ever-changing world.
Our remote invigilation trials are now just around the corner, marking an exciting step forward in expanding flexible assessment options for Cambridge learners.
The small number of online schools taking part have been working closely with us throughout the preparation process. Their collaboration has helped ensure that the trial experience is as smooth and supportive as possible for the students who will be sitting their exams under remote supervision.
Once the trials take place, the feedback we gather from both schools and students will be vital. Their insights will inform future trials and play a key role in shaping Cambridge’s long-term remote invigilation offer.
We look forward to sharing more as this important work progresses.
Online school spotlight
Online school spotlight - Inventum International Online School
This term, our spotlight shines on Inventum International Online School,
which is empowering learners through emerging technologies. Through its Emerging Technologies programme, students explore AI, VR and more while developing creativity, critical thinking and ethical awareness - preparing them not only for their academic future, but for life in an increasingly complex world.
15 January 2026: Release of November 2025 series result reports
Participating online schools will receive component-level performance reports via KiteWorks shortly after grades are released. This process will run again for the June 2026 series, with invitations shared closer to the time.
11 February 2026: Cambridge online schools community café
Our next community café will take place on 11 February — an open, supportive space for online educators to share experiences and connect across the Cambridge online schools network. Join via Microsoft Teams at 12:00 GMT on the day. Access the meeting here.
26 February 2026, 12:00 GMT - Webinar: Building community in online learning
Join senior researcher Martin Johnson and head of online education Matt James as they share research and practical insights on strengthening community, reducing learner isolation and fostering collaboration in online classrooms.
As a preview to the webinar, Matt James and two of the schools that took part in the research study (21K and Evolve Online School) discuss key findings in our latest Brighter Thinking Podcast and how they’re being implemented in online classrooms every day. Listen here.
4 March – 12 April 2026: “Getting started with online teaching and learning” course
Cambridge’s enrichment course designed to build practical online teaching strategies. Limited to 25 participants. Register using this link.
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