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.

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.

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.

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!