I first came across Outschool a few years ago, right in the middle of the pandemic. At the time, I believed it catered mainly to an American audience, and I was a bit hesitant about exposing my young daughter to more screen time than necessary. However, I couldn’t deny a certain intrigue and kept it on my radar for a future revisit.

Fast forward to a few months ago, when a fellow homeschooling friend began raving about her 8-year-old daughter's experiences with Outschool. Her child had been exploring a wide array of classes—debating, art, French, and even singing! Naturally, I couldn’t resist the urge to learn more. As soon as I got home, I created an account and was astounded by the variety on offer. I discovered countless fascinating courses, classes, and private lessons, making it clear that Outschool had something for nearly everyone.

What is Outschool?

Outschool is an online education platform offering live, interactive classes for learners aged 3-18. It’s designed to bring students together with teachers from around the world through a range of subjects, from core academic lessons to more niche interests like chess, baking, and creative writing. Outschool is known for its flexibility, allowing parents to choose classes that align with their child's specific needs, interests, and schedules.

A Brief History of Outschool

Outschool was founded in 2015 by Amir Nathoo, Mikhail Seregine, and Nick Grandy, with a vision to create a platform where children could learn through engaging, small-group classes. The founders saw an opportunity to move away from the traditional classroom setting and provide a more personalised learning experience. But it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic that Outschool truly found its stride. With schools worldwide shifting to remote learning, parents sought alternative ways to keep their children engaged and progressing academically. Outschool’s interactive format and wide selection of courses made it a go-to choice for many families. The platform’s user base soared, and it became a household name among homeschooling communities and parents looking for enrichment options during school closures.

Our Outschool Journey

The first course that caught my eye was “Let’s Learn History: All About Shakespeare (Ages 7-11)”. Miss 8, already immersed in her favourite Shakespearean tales, was eager to join. The class featured a small group — just one other boy from Hong Kong—and a wonderfully enthusiastic American teacher who made Shakespeare’s stories come alive. It was a delight to see both children fully engaged, their interest growing with each session. 

From there, we ventured into more classes. Miss 8 took up a weekly art course and even joined a girls’ chat group — a lovely social outlet, especially for a homeschooled child. One particularly unexpected gem was a course focused on keeping tidy and home organisation. It’s not something you’d expect to find online, but it proved to be a valuable, real-life skill that Miss 8 enjoyed immensely.

What We Love About Outschool

• Endless Options: With thousands of classes available, the only limits are your own interests, time, educational goals and of course financial considerations. Outschool is a treasure trove of opportunities.
  
  
• Social Connection: It’s a great way for homeschooled children to connect with peers from around the world, many of whom share similar learning experiences.
  
  
• Flexibility: If your plans change—be it due to travel or other circumstances—you can pause your lessons. The ability to un-enrol with a simple click means there’s no long-term commitment.
  
  
• Customisation: You can request that teachers create bespoke courses tailored to your child’s interests.
  
  
• Safety: Outschool carefully vets its teachers, and a robust review system helps you gauge whether a teacher is a good fit. And, if things don’t work out, un-enrolling is very straightforward.
  
  
• Tutoring Support: Struggling with a specific subject? Outschool offers tutors who can provide targeted support.

The Not-So-Good

• Almost Too Much Choice: With such an abundance of courses, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or even over-committed. Balancing Outschool classes with other activities — and the core elements of homeschooling — can be challenging.
  
  
• Screen Time: While online learning is wonderful, I believe it’s essential to balance it with in-person activities. I am mindful of my daughter’s screen time to protect her eyesight and ensure she doesn’t become overly reliant on digital platforms.
  
  
• Less Personalised Relationships: Outschool is a platform that connects teachers with students, and sometimes the connection can feel a bit impersonal. Teachers come and go, as we experienced when Miss 8’s beloved Shakespeare instructor left unexpectedly. It was upsetting and a goodbye note would have made all the difference. A replacement was assigned, but the class was eventually cancelled.
  
  
• Courses Run by Companies: Some classes are run by educational companies rather than individual teachers. This can offer certain advantages, like consistency and professionalism, but it may also lack the personal touch of a dedicated, independent instructor. Older children might adapt to this, but for younger learners, it can be more of a challenge.
  
  
• Timing Challenges: Many of the classes are scheduled for time zones that suit American audiences. It can be disappointing to find a course that Miss 8 would love, only to discover that the class times aren’t practical for us in Singapore. Nevertheless, with a bit of patience, we’ve always found suitable options eventually.

Technical Challenges with Outschool

While Outschool's interface is generally user-friendly, there are a few quirks worth noting. The time zone differences can make scheduling a bit tricky, especially for those of us in regions like Singapore. Additionally, the video platform occasionally has connectivity issues, which can disrupt the flow of a class. While these hiccups are rare, they can be frustrating when they do occur. It’s also worth noting that managing multiple class schedules requires a bit of organisation on the part of parents, particularly when balancing Outschool classes with other extracurriculars or homeschooling activities.

Final Thoughts

Despite a few drawbacks, Outschool remains a firm favourite in our household. It’s a fantastic resource for homeschoolers and families looking for enriching extracurricular activities. With such a wide range of subjects, from niche interests to mainstream topics, the possibilities are virtually endless — and that’s what I love most about it.

If you’d like to explore Outschool for yourself, click through my link and you’ll receive a $20 credit towards your first class upon creating an account and verifying your email. What a great way to start your Outschool journey!

I’ll be sure to update this review with recommendations for courses Miss 8 has completed, so do stay tuned for more insights.

Until next time, happy reading and thank you for being part of The Yumcha Mama community!

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Love, Mei-Ling x

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