Find an Alternative to Conventional Schooling
An online course showcasing a variety of
ways to approach education in the 21st century
From Despair and Disillusionment, to Direction and Hope
Have you lost confidence in our one-size-fits-all school system?
Do you feel that children, families and educators should have more choice regarding what and how young people learn?
Questioning the mainstream can feel isolating, and it’s difficult to know where to go to find the answers, but you’re not alone. A growing number of people are looking for solutions outside of the mainstream education system and this course aims to help you find clarity and support.
Find a Way Forward
There is hope! There are many alternatives to conventional schooling. New models are emerging all the time, which place mental health and wellbeing, children’s rights, social justice and 21st century life-skills right at the core. Find out more in this introductory course...
Have you lost confidence in our one-size-fits-all school system?
Do you feel that children, families and educators should have more choice regarding what and how young people learn?
Questioning the mainstream can feel isolating, and it’s difficult to know where to go to find the answers, but you’re not alone. A growing number of people are looking for solutions outside of the mainstream education system and this course aims to help you find clarity and support.
Find a Way Forward
There is hope! There are many alternatives to conventional schooling. New models are emerging all the time, which place mental health and wellbeing, children’s rights, social justice and 21st century life-skills right at the core. Find out more in this introductory course...
Introductory Course: Alternatives to Conventional Schooling
9 inspiring education options for you to explore
Introductory Course: Alternatives to Conventional Schooling
9 inspiring education options for you to explore
What's Included?
9 modules to work through at your own pace, each one covering a different way to approach education.
The modules consist of pre-recorded video presentations or interviews with leading education innovators.
Video format allows you to listen on the go while juggling the demands of your busy life!
Gain a deeper understanding of what’s important to you for a 21st century education.
Find an educational approach which aligns with your values and hopes for the future.
Course Modules
Access all for just £48!
Home Education
Learn the differences between homeschooling, unschooling and deschooling, and more...
Flexi-Schooling
Discover the benefits and the how-to of accessing mainstream school on a part-time basis.
Worldschooling
How to learn by travelling, and connecting with other families and communities along the way.
Montessori
Hear the inspirational story of Maria Montessori, the 20th century innovator from Italy, who created an approach to education for a fairer and more peaceful world.
Forest School
Explore this child-centred learning process that supports play, exploration and risk taking, and develops confidence and self-esteem through hands-on experiences in a natural setting.
Reggio Emilia
Find out how a group of women at the end of WW2 built radically different preschools from the rubble of damaged buildings and inspired a network of schools around the world.
Democratic/Self-Directed Education
Arguably the oldest way of approaching education, find out what natural learning looks like and how it lays the foundations for human flourishing.
Consent-Based Education
A sub-category of self-directed education, this revolutionary concept for learning and life is paving the way for a more humane and ethical world.
Online Schools
Explore the varied ways to access education online.
Progressive Education is a deep-dive into the most up-to-date pedagogies in education.
Underpinned with innovative research it pulls together everything you need to know and understand
when choosing a well-rounded education for your child.
Kimberley Cooper, teacher/learning facilitator and founder of holisticlearning.co.uk
Progressive Education is a deep-dive into the most up-to-date pedagogies in education.
Underpinned with innovative research it pulls together everything you need to know and understand
when choosing a well-rounded education for your child.
Kimberley Cooper, teacher/learning facilitator and founder of holisticlearning.co.uk
Meet Your Experts
Introducing the guest speakers for each of your nine modules:
1 Dr Jo Sweetland, Matt Harris, Alice Khimasia, Streams
2 Sarah Sudea, Finding the Flex
3 Lizz Quain, Trailblazing Families
4 Sarah Cummins and Tom Browne
5 John Cree
6 Hayley Peacock, Atelier 21 Future School
7 Gayle Nagle, Democratic Education Ireland
8 Sophie Christophy, Centre for Consent-Based Education
9 Raya Bidshahari, School of Humanity
The spectacular growth of Jo Symes's Progressive Education Group demonstrates the need for an information exchange for the many parents and young people who are being failed by the current obsolete and unfit for purpose education system. They know that something better must be possible. Something not based on fear of failure, coercion and rote learning for tests.
Progressive Education points them towards the 'pioneers of possibility' where the innate curiosity, creativity, need for agency, collaboration, competence, and communication of young people are already being fostered -
both in England and elsewhere.
Derry Hannam, former deputy head, Ofsted inspector and international adviser in education for democratic citizenship. Author of 'Another Way is Possible: Becoming a Democratic Teacher in a State School'.
The spectacular growth of Jo Symes's Progressive Education Group demonstrates the need for an information exchange for the many parents and young people who are being failed by the current obsolete and unfit for purpose education system. They know that something better must be possible. Something not based on fear of failure, coercion and rote learning for tests.
Progressive Education points them towards the 'pioneers of possibility' where the innate curiosity, creativity, need for agency, collaboration, competence, and communication of young people are already being fostered -
both in England and elsewhere.
Derry Hannam, former deputy head, Ofsted inspector and international adviser in education for democratic citizenship. Author of 'Another Way is Possible: Becoming a Democratic Teacher in a State School'.
FAQs
Who is this course for?
This course is for you if you have a feeling that there’s got to be more to education than a one-size-fits-all school system!
Parents/Carers
The course was created by UK mum, Jo Symes (scroll down for more about Jo). She wanted to create a resource so that families can make more informed decisions about children’s education. However this course will be equally fascinating for other groups, including:
Educators/Pioneers
Perhaps you’re a teacher/school leader who feels disillusioned with our current education system.
Or maybe you’re starting up a new school or learning community and wondering which direction to go in.
Students
If you are contemplating a career in education, this course will help you discover which approaches align with your values.
Other Professionals/Decision-Makers
Are you a mental health professional who sees the impact of mainstream schooling on young people and wonders if another way is possible?
Or perhaps you an employer who questions whether alternatives to mainstream schooling could better prepare graduates for adulthood and the world of work.
Policymakers who are looking for inspiration to bring about change will also find the content of this resource invaluable.
You will particularly enjoy this course if you’re excited by innovation in education and you’re keen to learn more about what some of the other options are for learners in the 21st century.
How much does the course cost?
This downloadable online course, including all nine modules is £48 (about £5 per module). This is an introductory price for 2026 only.
How long are the modules?
Each module consists of one video with a presentation or interview with an education pioneer. On average the videos last for about an hour, some a little less and others slightly more.
What if I don’t have time to watch it right now?
Don’t worry if you don’t have time to work through the course straight away, as once you’ve signed up, you’ll have lifetime access, and you can work through all nine pre-recorded modules at your own pace.
Who created the course?
This course was created by the founder and director of Progressive Education, Jo Symes. You can read a bit about her and her vision below.
Naomi's testimonial is coming soon... Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah
Dr Naomi Fisher, Clinical Psychologist and author of several books including, 'A Different Way to Learn'.
Naomi's testimonial is coming soon... Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah blah blah Blah
Dr Naomi Fisher, Clinical Psychologist and author of several books including, 'A Different Way to Learn'.
About the Course Creator
My name’s Jo Symes. Almost ten years ago, I sent my children to their local school without a second thought. I’d never questioned the education system before. But very quickly, it was clear that they were not thriving and I began exploring alternatives to conventional schooling.
In 2019 I set up the Progressive Education Group on Facebook which now has over 11k members, including parents/carers, educators, academics, researchers, psychologists, education innovators and changemakers.
The growth of the group inspired me to create the website and social enterprise, Progressive Education, so that resources could be shared more widely. Progressive Education raises awareness of alternatives to conventional schooling and campaigns for change within mainstream education.
I help people to make informed decisions about education, and I have ambitions for Progressive Education to be an impactful organisation within the wider movement for change.
Copyright Progressive Education 2026