Where Asta can be a strong fit
- Choose your family’s timetable. Move lessons around your day and revisit an idea without waiting for the next live class. Explore My week →
- Start from Year 1. Bring younger and older siblings into one family account, with individual learning spaces across Years 1–9. See the parent experience →
- Get another explanation when it is needed. All 828 core lessons in the current lesson library have an explanation, hint and separate worked-example audio clip. This is prepared help, not a live tutor. Hear how help works →
- See the family price clearly. Published sibling rates are $104 for the second child and $69 for each additional child per school month. Try a week without entering a card. Calculate your family price →
These are reasons to consider Asta, not claims that every feature is exclusive. For example, Wolsey Hall also offers self-paced learning and sibling discounts.
Published prices, with the small print
Prices checked 28 October 2026, in each provider’s original currency. These are different services and curriculum scopes, not equivalent annual packages. Asta’s annual price is a published billing rate; four authored weeks are currently complete. Confirm availability directly with each provider.
| Compare | Asta | King’s InterHigh | Minerva Virtual Academy | Wolsey Hall Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Published tuition | $139 / school month first child; $1,112 upfront for ten school months. | £4,395 / year Years 3–6; £5,995 / year Years 7–9. Annual contract, 2026/27. [KF] | £9,365 / academic year; VAT included. [MF] | £2,400 example: four Upper Primary courses, paid in full — English, Maths, Art and History. Not an all-subject package. [WF] |
| Monthly / instalment options | Ten monthly payments: $1,390 first child. Upfront price equals eight monthly rates. | Annual contract may be paid over ten months; rolling: £955 primary / £1,360 middle per half term. [KF] | UK instalments cost more; international families pay upfront. [MF] | Same four-course example: £2,520 by instalments. [WF] |
| Siblings | Second: $104/month or $832 upfront. Each additional: $69/month or $552 upfront. | Sibling discount available; confirm quote. [KF] | n/a — not verified | 10% sibling discount; first student excluded. [WF] |
| Extra costs and scope | Parent-supported. Four authored core weeks currently complete; full annual programme still in development. Paid enrolment is not open; registration takes no card. | £100 registration. Monthly-payment deposit £500 UK / £1,000 overseas. Extra subjects and technology fee may apply; confirm total and VAT display. [KF] | Mid-year entry is prorated by half term. Confirm entry-year and payment terms. [MF] | Course bundles vary. Books and tutor feedback included; an academic-year course, normally within 12 months. [WF] |
For two children, Asta’s published total is $1,944 upfront versus $2,430 over ten school months, saving $486. King’s fee page includes a VAT toggle and says quoted totals include VAT where applicable; request a location-specific final quote including its technology fee.
Every Asta subject, compared
17 subjects: 12 core areas and five optional introductions. Asta currently provides four core weeks per year group. Optional courses have the age ranges below. Competitor availability may depend on stage, timetable, chosen package and extra fees. “Related” means a different course or club, not an exact match.
n/a — not verified means we could not verify this specific provision from the reviewed public sources. It does not mean the provider does not offer it. This applies to every table below; no score is calculated from unknowns.
| Compare | Asta | King’s InterHigh | Minerva Virtual Academy | Wolsey Hall Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · primary / KS3 [KP] | Yes · Years 7–9 [M] | Yes · primary / secondary [W] |
| Mathematics | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · primary / KS3 [KP] | Yes · Years 7–9 [M] | Yes · primary / secondary [W] |
| Science | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · primary / KS3 [KP] | Yes · separate sciences in Year 9 [M9] | Yes · primary / secondary [W] |
| History | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · KS3 choice [K] | Yes · Years 7–8; Year 9 elective [M9] | Yes · Upper Primary / secondary [W] |
| Geography | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · KS3 choice [K] | Yes · Year 9 elective [M9] | Yes · Upper Primary / secondary [W] |
| Art and Design | Included · Years 1–9 | Art · KS3 choice [K] | Carousel Years 7–8; elective Year 9 [M9] | Yes · primary / secondary [W] |
| Design and Technology | Included · Years 1–9 | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Music | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · KS3 choice [K] | Year 9 elective; younger pupils’ club [M9] | Yes · from Year 2; secondary options [WF] |
| Physical Education | Included · Years 1–9 | n/a — not verified | Related: run, yoga and circuit clubs; not a PE course [M] | n/a — not verified |
| Computing | Included · Years 1–9 | Computer Science · KS3 choice [K] | Carousel Years 7–8; Computer Science Year 9 [M9] | Yes · Upper Primary / secondary [W] |
| Personal Development | Included · Years 1–9 | Related: PSHE [K] | Related: Wellbeing [M] | Related: Skills for Life [WS] |
| Religious Education | Included · Years 1–9 | Yes · KS3 choice [K] | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Chess | Optional · Years 1–9 · four beginner lessons | Chess club listed in 2024/25 prospectus; 2026/27 club provision unverified [KC] | Chess club: basics and practice [MC] | Chess club; course equivalence unverified [WS] |
| Social Skills & Relationships | Optional · Years 1–9 | Related: PSHE; separate course unverified [K] | Related: Wellbeing; separate course unverified [M] | Related: Skills for Life [WS] |
| Money & Financial Literacy | Optional · Years 5–9 | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | Related: money topics in Years 3 and 5 Skills for Life [WL] |
| Entrepreneurship | Optional · Years 6–9 | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Investing & Risk | Optional · Years 8–9 | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
How children learn and get help
| Compare | Asta | King’s InterHigh | Minerva Virtual Academy | Wolsey Hall Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesson read-aloud | Narration available for selected lesson content; separate from extra help audio. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Different learning methods | Reading, worked examples, audio, practice, selected videos and practical tasks. | Live teaching plus recordings [KF] | Independent study plus live lessons [M9] | Multimedia and interactive activities [W] |
| Extra audio help | Explain, hint and different worked example: 2,484 clips for all 828 core lessons. Prepared AI voice; optional courses excluded. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Video help | Selected lessons have helper / introduction videos; not every lesson. | Replayable lesson recordings [KF] | Videos in learning-platform approach [ML] | Videos in student platform [W] |
| Built-in learning help | Worked examples, hints and prepared explanations inside lessons. | Teacher support; exact hint interface n/a [K] | Teachers and mentor; exact hint interface n/a [M9] | Tutor messages; exact hint interface n/a [WF] |
| Reveal solution → similar task | Yes · solution use adds a fresh practice task for parent review. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Guided and independent practice | Yes · teaching, example, practice and independent task. | n/a — not verified | Self-study then teacher-led application [ML] | Independent courses and assignments [WS] |
| Understanding checks and revision | Lesson checks, exit questions and parent-reviewed assessments; revisit topics. | Homework marks and grades [K] | Platform quizzes and live application [ML] | Assignments and internal core assessments [WS] |
| Dedicated live teacher / mentor | Not included; parent-supported learning. | Live teachers; paid mentoring option [K] | Live teachers and weekly mentor [M9] | Tutor feedback and progress manager [WS] |
| Practical and offline learning | Art, making, investigations and PE away from the screen. | n/a — not verified | Cooking club practical sessions [MC] | n/a — not verified |
Daily practice, play and physical activity
Physical activity at home and in-person school meetups are listed separately. A club is not the same as a daily feature built into a lesson.
| Compare | Asta | King’s InterHigh | Minerva Virtual Academy | Wolsey Hall Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily spelling | Five spoken words, answer check and retry, regardless of that day’s subjects. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Daily writing | Year-appropriate prompts alongside scheduled subjects. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Typed writing and word count | Yes · write and submit in the portal. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Printable handwriting sheets | Words to practise and writing lines; print at home. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Handwritten work photo upload | Yes · attach paper work for parent review. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Daily geography | Flags, countries and clues, with answer feedback. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Fun quizzes | Short clue-based general-knowledge rounds. | n/a — not verified | Quiz club; different from daily portal quizzes [M] | n/a — not verified |
| Break reminders and game length | Adjustable reminder intervals and correct-answer prompts; games limited to three minutes. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Small games between learning | Garden snake, noughts and crosses, matching pairs; adjustable timed breaks. | n/a — not verified | Games clubs; different from built-in lesson breaks [M] | Community games and competitions [WC] |
| Hourly movement prompts | Movement reminder after active study; comfortable seated or standing options. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Physical activity sessions | PE tasks and movement breaks at home, supported by a parent; no live coach. | n/a — not verified | Run, yoga and circuit-training clubs [M] | n/a — not verified |
| In-person school sessions / meetups | Not offered by Asta. | Trips, events and camps; some extra fees [K] | In-person school trips [MT] | n/a — not verified |
Planning, saved work and the parent view
| Compare | Asta | King’s InterHigh | Minerva Virtual Academy | Wolsey Hall Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My week timetable | Local-time weekly schedule with lessons, breaks and next activity. | Live timetable; timezone options [K] | Timetable combines live and independent work [M9] | Self-paced; no fixed lesson timetable [WS] |
| Move unfinished lessons | Yes · family can reschedule learning. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | Flexible self-paced schedule [WS] |
| Check-in and check-out | Large buttons; start and end times saved separately from learning minutes. | Attendance records; exact check-in flow n/a [K] | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Active learning time | Approximate active portal minutes; idle time, games and breaks excluded. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Minutes / hours for parents | Seven-day overview; paper and offline work are not automatically timed. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Saved drafts and autosave | Typed answers save as drafts, with recovery support. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Parent progress overview | Completed work, saved answers, missing / extra practice and daily results. | Parent Hub: grades, attendance and messages [K] | n/a — not verified | Progress manager and tutor feedback [WS] |
| Written feedback and next steps | Parent marking guides, feedback and review status. | Teacher-marked homework [K] | Individual mentoring support [M9] | Tutor assignment feedback [WF] |
| Print saved work and results | Yes · printable work and result views. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Separate learner profiles | Individual learning records in one family account. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified |
| Parent subject selection | Choose subjects without deleting existing work. | KS3 subject choices [K] | Year 9 electives [M9] | Choose course combination [WS] |
| Annual outline and current lessons | Year plans plus four authored core weeks per year; later teaching still in development. | Annual-contract curriculum [KF] | Academic-year programme [MF] | Academic-year courses [WF] |
| Try before paying | One-week trial invitation; no card or automatic payment. | n/a — not verified | n/a — not verified | Free course samples; not a portal trial [WL] |
| Early primary access | Starts at Year 1. | Starts at Year 3 [KP] | Starts at age 11 [MF] | Starts at age 4 [W] |
| Peer community / live clubs | No student chat or live clubs; individual learning activities. | Co-curricular clubs [KF] | Clubs and social activities [M] | Moderated community and clubs [WC] |
| Assessment readiness | Based on reviewed understanding; no guaranteed pass or external exam equivalence. | Later examination pathways [KP] | GCSE preparation pathway [M9] | GCSE preparation and core assessments [WS] |
Asta’s activity timer is an estimate of active portal use, not a measure of understanding or a complete record of the child’s school day. Attendance times and learning time stay separate.
Sources for the detailed tables
Official provider pages reviewed on 28 October 2026. Source codes beside a claim link directly to its evidence. Unverified rows are research gaps, not negative findings. The comparison covers features relevant to Asta’s Years 1–9; it is not a catalogue of every competitor service.
- [KC] King’s: 2024/25 prospectus (historical)
- [WL] Wolsey Hall: Skills for Life themes
- [K] King’s: Years 7–9 subjects and support
- [KP] King’s: primary
- [KF] King’s: 2026/27 fees
- [M] Minerva: Years 7–8 and clubs
- [M9] Minerva: Year 9
- [MF] Minerva: fees and admissions
- [ML] Minerva: learning approach (2022 explanation, linked from current curriculum)
- [MC] Minerva: chess and practical clubs
- [MT] Minerva: in-person trips
- [W] Wolsey Hall: primary subjects and platform
- [WS] Wolsey Hall: Years 7–9 and chess
- [WC] Wolsey Hall: community and clubs
- [WF] Wolsey Hall: primary fees, April 2026
Asta evidence: subject catalogue, learning support, weekly routine, parent overview, assessment and progress, current course scope and the current portal implementation.
Compare the models side by side
Asta is a self-paced, parent-supported learning programme. Live-teaching schools and tutor-supported correspondence courses include different services. The table therefore compares fit and provision, rather than treating every provider as the same product.
| Family priority | Asta | King’s InterHigh | Minerva Virtual Academy | Wolsey Hall Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting age and year groups | Years 1–9, typically ages 5–14. A practical option when younger and older siblings learn at home. | Starts at Year 3; provision extends through sixth form. Year groups ↗ | Ages 11–18; secondary and sixth-form provision. Age range ↗ | Ages 4–18, from Primary to A Level. Age range ↗ |
| Who controls lesson timing? | Self-paced activities. Parents organise My week and can move unfinished lessons; no required live class to join. | Live lessons on published timetables, with a choice of time zones. Teaching model ↗ | Live teaching and structured timetables, with flexibility and mentoring. Teaching model ↗ | Self-paced courses without live lessons or set timetables. Flexibility is a shared strength. Teaching model ↗ |
| Who reviews and supports the work? | Worked examples, practice feedback and parent marking guidance. Parents review written work; a dedicated live teacher or mentor is not included. | Live teaching plus teacher-monitored clubs and community activities. Primary support ↗ | Qualified teachers and weekly one-to-one personal mentoring. Mentoring ↗ | Tutor feedback on submitted assignments and academic questions through platform messages. Included support ↗ |
| How are fees organised? | Published USD pricing: $139 per school month for the first child, $104 for the second and $69 for each additional child. Annual payment equals eight monthly payments for ten school months. Registration takes no card or automatic payment. Asta fees → | Fees vary by stage, contract and subject choices. Registration, deposit and tax treatment can affect the total. Current fee calculator ↗ | Published fee: £9,365 per academic year, including VAT. Confirm payment options for your location. Provider information ↗ | Per-course and bundle pricing. Primary fee terms publish a 10% sibling discount and an approximate 5% full-payment discount. Primary fee terms ↗ |
| Learning scope to compare | Four authored weeks in 12 core subject areas for each year, plus optional introductory courses. The full annual programme is not yet complete; Asta does not claim school accreditation or exam-centre status. Scope and recognition → | Primary provision begins in Key Stage 2; the provider also offers later examination-stage study. Available stages ↗ | Full British curriculum with GCSE and sixth-form pathways; the provider states DfE accreditation. Curriculum and recognition ↗ | Primary courses cover an academic year, normally completed within 12 months; later qualification courses are also offered. Primary course scope ↗ |
A closer look at family cost
At Asta’s published rates, two children total $243 per school month. Ten monthly payments total $2,430; paying eight monthly rates upfront for the ten-month school year totals $1,944, a saving of $486. This is a comparison between Asta billing options—not a claim of savings against another provider.
Competitor fees may be quoted in pounds, include different teaching services and cover a different amount of curriculum. Compare the same age, course load, tutor support, contract length, applicable taxes and any additional fees. Confirm course availability and payment terms before making a decision. Read Asta’s fees and access terms →
When another model may suit your family better
If you want scheduled live teaching, school-led marking or weekly individual mentoring, include those requirements in your shortlist. King’s InterHigh and Minerva describe live teaching; Minerva includes weekly personal mentoring. Wolsey Hall combines independent study with tutor feedback. Asta is designed for families who want to remain actively involved in organising learning and reviewing written work.
If you need a complete annual programme, accredited provision or an examination pathway now, check those requirements with each provider and your local education authority. Asta’s available current course scope is not equivalent to a completed school year. Read Asta’s current scope →
How we made this comparison
Published by Asta Online School, so this is a provider-authored comparison, not an independent ranking. We selected three providers with different learning models and used their official websites and published fee documents. Sources were checked on 28 October 2026. Features, fees and availability can change; follow the source links for current details.
We do not score providers, claim better learning outcomes or mark an unverified competitor feature as absent. Asta’s audio count covers core lessons only; optional courses and video coverage are separate.
- King’s InterHigh: primary teaching and year groups ↗
- King’s InterHigh: fees ↗
- Minerva: teaching, mentoring and ages ↗
- Wolsey Hall: learning model and ages ↗
- Wolsey Hall: Primary fees, April 2026 ↗
Spotted a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.
Try the learning before deciding
Choose a year group, try the teaching and help, and see how the parent overview works for your family. No card required. No automatic payment.
Questions parents ask
Is Asta better than a live online school?
It depends on your family. Asta suits parent-supported, self-paced learning. A live school may be a better fit when scheduled teacher-led classes and school-led support are essential.
Does Asta start earlier than King’s InterHigh or Minerva?
Asta starts at Year 1. King’s InterHigh lists provision from Year 3 and Minerva from age 11. Wolsey Hall starts at age 4, so early access is not unique to Asta.
Can all of these providers be compared on annual price alone?
No. Teaching support, curriculum scope, subjects, currency, taxes and contracts differ. Asta currently has four authored weeks; do not treat that as the same provision as a complete annual course.
Updated 28 October 2026 · Asta Online School
See learning at Asta for details about learning with Asta.