Unsure which exam type? GCSE vs IGCSE: which should home educators choose.
Who GCSEs at home are for
GCSEs at home suit home-educated learners aged 14-16 who want structured online teaching, progress tracking and the option to sit exams when ready. Parents remain responsible for education; Lift College provides the curriculum, lesson videos, quizzes and tutor support that make independent study manageable.
Our courses follow exam-board specifications so learners cover exactly what examiners expect. You choose which subjects to study, set your own timetable and decide which exam series to enter. Many families combine Lift College courses with other resources or face-to-face tutoring; the platform fits around your broader home-education plan.
Study online with Lift College, book exams with an approved centre
Lift College delivers the teaching. You log in, watch lessons, complete assignments and ask questions through the platform. When your child is ready to sit exams, you arrange entry through an approved exam centre as a private candidate.
We do not run exams ourselves. Instead, our partner Tutors and Exams connects families with centres that accept private candidates. Exams take place in person at the centre, under the same conditions as school candidates. Results come from the exam board in the usual way, and the certificate carries no mention of home education or private-candidate status.
This separation keeps roles clear: Lift College handles study, the centre handles exams. You stay in control of timing and location, and your child gets a nationally recognised GCSE.
The Tutors and Exams pathway
Tutors and Exams is an approved exam-centre network that works with home-educated families. Once you have studied with Lift College and chosen an exam series, Tutors and Exams helps you find a centre, register your entries and pay exam fees directly to the centre.
Centres currently include Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Mitcham, Newcastle, Romford, St Neots and Taunton. Your preferred centre is not guaranteed, but Tutors and Exams will work to match you with a nearby option that has capacity for your chosen subjects and series.
You can read more about the private-candidate process on our private candidates page, which explains deadlines, registration steps and what to expect on exam day.
Cost clarity: study fees and exam fees
Lift College charges for online study. Exam centres charge separately for exam entries, invigilation and administration. We do not set or collect centre fees; those costs sit between you and the centre.
Study pricing depends on the course and subscription length. See the live course page for current study prices, or start a 7-day free trial to explore the platform before committing. The trial gives full access to lessons, quizzes and tutor support so you can judge whether the teaching style suits your child.
Exam fees vary by centre, subject and series. Tutors and Exams will provide a quote once you have chosen your subjects and preferred exam window. Expect centre fees to cover entry, venue hire and invigilation; some centres charge per subject, others per session. Always confirm the total cost in writing before you commit to entries.
Start your 7-day free trial
Browse our GCSE courses, pick a subject and start a 7-day free trial. No payment details required up front. If the course works for your family, subscribe and continue; if not, the trial simply expires.
Home-educated learners aged 14-16 can study any combination of GCSEs. You are not locked into exam entries; many families study for a year or more before booking exams, while others enter sooner if the learner is ready. The platform adapts to your pace.