Company to run free pilot scheme for home schooling (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Company to run free pilot scheme for home schooling

10:30am Thursday 22nd April 2004 in

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A COMPANY based in Wheathamstead that is at the forefront of a revolution in home schooling is offering parents the chance to trial its system for free.

Vu2, which operates from offices in Brewhouse Hill, has pioneered a web-based system which allows children who cannot attend school to receive up to 15 hours a week tuition in a range of subjects.

Teachers give lessons via a live web broadcast and children log on at the allotted time to receive the tuition. They can hear the teacher's voice but can also communicate through a two-way text system.

Local education authorities (LEAs) are obliged by the Government to provide children who are not attending school for whatever reason with 25 hours a week schooling.

Vu2's technology enables children to receive tuition in mathematicss, English, science and IT and because the lessons are modelled on the National Curriculum pupils can obtain GCSEs after the usual two years.

To date, 22 LEAs around the country including Hertfordshire employ the system with 300 children benefiting from the technology.

Managing director Peter Burrows believes that is just the tip of the iceberg.

He said: "The potential for this is so exciting. I don't know of another company in this country which does exactly what we do.

"There is also interest internationally and I am going to Australia to give a demonstration. It really is a growth market."

This is demonstrated by Vu2's own growth which has seen staff numbers grow from five to 24 in just two years.

And now the company is preparing to launch a new product aimed at parents who would like to give their children extra tuition at home.

The company wants to run a 100-pupil pilot with 25 children from each of the four key stages each receiving half an hour a week of free education in mathematics and English.

At the end of a four-week period parents will be asked what they think of the system and there is no obligation to buy.

Mr Burrows said: "We want some market analysis and it would suit us to have local parents and children taking part in the pilot.

"They would not have to commit to anything but we just want to ask a few questions about what they thought of the product."

Anyone who thinks they would like to take part in the trial should call 0800 587 6067. More information is available on the company's website, www.vu2media.com