This site is under construction; further topics to come will include SAT/AP/Umbrella Schools/ENIC/Planning/Transcripts

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Welcome!

You might be confused. Or desperate. Or just curious! But this is a great place to learn about the "High School Diploma". It has been growing in popularity over the past several years and, as I will attempt to show, is an ideal way to create a broad, delight-led education for your family's home educating journey.

Before we jump in, let answer a few very basic questions about the High School Diploma:

Yes! It's legal.

No! It's not experimental.

Yes! It works.

Yes! It's instead of GCSEs.

Yes! Exams are optional.

What is the High School Diploma Path?

When we talk of the High School Diploma (HSD) pathway, we are referring to a flexible (typically) four-year plan of education which includes courses in core subjects to give the young person completing it a broad education in preparation for the next stage of life and learning. It's the nearest American equivalent to our GCSEs and, when certified, is universally recognised.

The HSD path gives young people increased agency to follow their interests (academic and non academic) and have them count towards educational achievements. Optional, standardised exams (SAT and APs) can be included, depend on ability and the student's long term educational goals.

Dig Deeper:
What is a High School Diploma?
Courses & credits
Accreditation
Exams

Two parts

The HSD really has two parts: the Diploma, and the Transcript.

The Diploma is merely the certificate awarded on completion of a full high school programme; the student has graduated. The standard for graduation has different requirements in different US states but would typically be in the range of four credits each in English and Maths, three each in Science and Social Studies plus some Electives.

The Transcript is the official record of the high school education, listing the courses the student has taken along with a grade. This is what sixth-forms, universities and employers will be looking at; it is the black and white outline of the breadth, depth and level of study accomplished.

Dig Deeper:
Who can use this path?
Transcript
Courses & credits
Accreditation

Explore

Depending on how new the concept is to you, I expect you will have many questions about this educational path. So please explore and dig into the resources.

I have tried to make this site as easy as possible to navigate both while you are finding your feet and then to pop back to when you have questions once your journey is underway. Do send any feedback or further questions to info@diplomapath.uk.

Where to next?
Courses & credits
FAQs

Note:

Reflections or information directly from my own journey facilitating this approach with my tweens and teens can be found in boxes like this across the site. I have completed this path twice so far - learn from my mistakes and successes!

My own HSD students - past, present and future:

Humanities-focused daughter
(graduated 2025)

Engineering-focused son

(graduated 2025)

Humanities-focused son

(to graduate in 2028)

Youngest, to start in ~2027

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