Maxima is an innovative online provider of prep-school standard A Level courses, university counselling, and career readiness training. Ace your university entrance prep while attaining professional experience that puts you leaps ahead of peers in traditional educational settings.
Programme
Maxima combines rigorous A Level preparation, university counselling, and optional career-building experience into one online sixth form route.
Traditionally, even the best sixth form education provides you with A Level prep and university counselling only. But in today's world, where AI is changing how society functions at a rapid pace, Maxima believes that simple academic excellence is no longer sufficient.
To be clear, academic excellence is non-negotiable, but we also think that career readiness is something that should be encouraged well before students finish university. Maxima wants to give all students a head start, without sacrificing the academic side.
Three guided A Level courses, chosen around each student's future academic ambition.
Students get to choose 3 A Level courses that are the best fit for their future academic ambition. All courses are delivered in an asynchronous mode, with videos, written resources, and interactive assignments designed to engage and stimulate.
Admissions support is built into the sixth form experience, not bolted on afterwards.
Most online course providers stop short at provisioning, well, courses. Maxima is different; we provide an end-to-end sixth form experience that matches what private schools that cost tens of thousands in annual tuition offer. University counselling is a core part of this experience. With extensive experience counselling students who headed to Oxbridge and Ivy League schools, and being alums of these institutions ourselves, you are in good hands.
A third-year option gives students relevant professional, research, or founder experience.
After 2 years with Maxima, and as you wrap up your A Level exams, you have the option to continue another year with us to level up your professional experience. This will typically be the first real professional experience you gain that would be relevant to your future goals. Maxima has partnered up with fast growing startups and research institutions so that you have the choice to either intern at a tech startup (something that no other school can match) or conduct your own research project alongside professors and doctoral researchers. If entrepreneurship is more your calling, you have the choice to start your own entrepreneurial project with mentorship from Maxima founders and our network.
Why Maxima
Maxima is purpose built for ambitious students who want both the flexibility of online schooling AND the rigour and forward-looking spirit of an elite prep school.
Maxima delivers the same academic rigour at a much more accessible price tag. Furthermore, our innovative experiential year is something many traditional schools simply cannot deliver.
Anyone can pick up a textbook or go through an online course these days. The Maxima programme is built as a better, more holistic alternative compared to these options. Together with a rigorous academic curriculum, we also offer unparalleled university admissions counselling.
Homeschooling (or home education) is becoming popular even among families with students past the age of 16. Maxima is the answer to this growing demand. Our online, asynchronous delivery format gives you the flexiibility, both time and geography wise, without sacrificing quality.
Apply today
Apply to join Maxima today by filling out our application form. Or, if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our Admissions team!
Courses
Students can build a focused three-subject programme, with subject choices shaped by university and career goals.
In this course, you will develop strong mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and modelling skills. The course builds your confidence in using algebra, calculus, statistics and mechanics to solve abstract and real-world problems.
Pure Mathematics 1
You will build core skills in algebra, coordinate geometry, graphs, trigonometry and differentiation. You will learn to work fluently with mathematical expressions and functions.
Pure Mathematics 2
You will extend your understanding of calculus, sequences, logarithms, exponentials and trigonometry. You will learn to solve more complex problems using connected mathematical ideas.
Pure Mathematics 3
You will study more advanced algebra, functions, trigonometry, differentiation and integration. You will learn to apply these methods to increasingly sophisticated mathematical problems.
Pure Mathematics 4
You will deepen your understanding of calculus, vectors, parametric equations and differential equations. You will learn to model and solve more advanced mathematical situations.
Statistics Units
You will learn how to analyse data, work with probability, and use statistical distributions and hypothesis testing. You will develop the skills to interpret uncertainty and make evidence-based conclusions.
Mechanics Units
You will study motion, forces, Newton’s laws and mathematical modelling of physical situations. You will learn to apply mathematics to real-world problems involving particles and systems.
Decision Mathematics Units
You will explore algorithms, networks, linear programming and critical path analysis. You will learn how mathematics can be used to optimise decisions and solve practical planning problems.
In this course, you will develop advanced mathematical reasoning, problem-solving and modelling skills beyond standard A Level Mathematics. The course strengthens your ability to tackle complex abstract problems and apply mathematics across pure and applied contexts.
Further Pure Mathematics 1
You will study advanced algebra, complex numbers, matrices, transformations and proof. You will learn to work with more sophisticated mathematical structures and arguments.
Further Pure Mathematics 2
You will extend your understanding of calculus, polar coordinates, hyperbolic functions and differential equations. You will learn to solve more advanced pure mathematics problems with greater fluency.
Further Pure Mathematics 3
You will explore further advanced pure topics, including vectors, series, calculus and mathematical methods. You will develop deeper techniques for handling complex and highly abstract problems.
Mechanics Units
You will study more advanced motion, forces, energy, momentum and mathematical modelling. You will learn how to apply mathematics to increasingly complex physical systems.
Statistics Units
You will explore probability, distributions, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation. You will learn how to analyse uncertainty and draw conclusions from data.
Decision Mathematics Unit
You will study algorithms, networks, critical path analysis and linear programming. You will learn how mathematics can be used to optimise routes, resources and decisions.
In this course, you will learn how the physical world works, from forces, motion and electricity to fields, particles and cosmology. The course develops your problem-solving, mathematical, practical and analytical skills through theoretical and experimental physics.
Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials
You will study motion, forces, energy, power and the properties of materials. You will learn how to model physical situations and apply mechanics to real-world problems.
Unit 2: Waves and Electricity
You will explore waves, refraction, diffraction, polarisation, standing waves and electrical circuits. You will learn how wave and electrical principles are used in practical technologies.
Unit 3: Practical Skills in Physics I
You will develop your understanding of experimental methods, measurements and data analysis. You will learn how to interpret results and evaluate practical investigations.
Unit 4: Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles
You will study momentum, circular motion, electric and gravitational fields, particle physics and the Standard Model. You will learn how physics explains interactions at both large and subatomic scales.
Unit 5: Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology
You will explore thermal physics, nuclear radiation, oscillations, astrophysics and cosmology. You will learn how physics explains energy transfer, atomic processes and the wider universe.
Unit 6: Practical Skills in Physics II
You will build on earlier practical skills through more advanced experimental analysis. You will learn how to plan investigations, process data and evaluate evidence with greater precision.
In this course, you will learn the key ideas that explain how substances are structured, how they react, and how chemists investigate them. The course develops your problem-solving, practical and analytical skills across physical, inorganic and organic chemistry.
Unit 1: Structure, Bonding and Introduction to Organic Chemistry
You will learn about atomic structure, bonding, the periodic table and the foundations of organic chemistry. You will also explore alkanes, alkenes and basic reaction mechanisms.
Unit 2: Energetics, Group Chemistry, Halogenoalkanes and Alcohols
You will study energy changes, intermolecular forces, Group 2 and Group 7 chemistry, and key organic compounds. You will also learn how analytical techniques help identify substances.
Unit 3: Practical Skills in Chemistry I
You will develop your understanding of practical methods, experimental design and data analysis. You will learn how to interpret results and evaluate chemical investigations.
Unit 4: Rates, Equilibria and Further Organic Chemistry
You will explore reaction rates, equilibria, acids and bases, and more advanced organic chemistry. You will learn how conditions affect chemical reactions and yields.
Unit 5: Transition Metals and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry
You will study redox chemistry, transition metals, organic nitrogen compounds and modern analytical techniques. You will also explore how chemistry is applied in synthesis and investigation.
Unit 6: Practical Skills in Chemistry II
You will build on earlier practical skills through more advanced experimental analysis. You will learn how to plan investigations, process data and evaluate evidence with greater precision.
In this course, you will learn how living organisms work, from molecules and cells to ecosystems and human body systems. The course develops your scientific understanding, practical skills and ability to analyse biological data.
Unit 1: Molecules, Diet, Transport and Health
You will study biological molecules, diet, health and disease. You will also learn how transport systems work in plants and animals.
Unit 2: Cells, Development, Biodiversity and Conservation
You will explore cell structure, cell division, development and genetics. You will also study biodiversity, classification and conservation.
Unit 3: Practical Skills in Biology I
You will develop your understanding of practical methods, experimental design and data analysis. You will learn how to interpret results and evaluate biological investigations.
Unit 4: Energy, Environment, Microbiology and Immunity
You will study photosynthesis, ecosystems, climate change, microbiology and immunity. You will learn how organisms interact with their environment and defend against disease.
Unit 5: Respiration, Internal Environment, Coordination and Gene Technology
You will explore respiration, homeostasis, the nervous system, hormones and gene technology. You will learn how organisms coordinate responses and maintain internal balance.
Unit 6: Practical Skills in Biology II
You will build on earlier practical skills through more advanced experimental analysis. You will learn how to plan investigations, process data and evaluate evidence with greater precision.
In this course, you will learn how individuals, businesses and governments make economic decisions, and how markets and economies work in the real world. The course develops your analytical, evaluative and quantitative skills through local, national and global economic issues.
Unit 1: Markets in Action
You will learn how markets work through supply, demand, prices and incentives. You will also explore market failure and how governments can intervene.
Unit 2: Macroeconomic Performance and Policy
You will study how whole economies are measured, including growth, inflation, unemployment and living standards. You will learn how governments and central banks use policies to manage economic performance.
Unit 3: Business Behaviour
You will examine how firms make decisions about costs, revenue, profit, pricing and output. You will also study competition, market structures, labour markets and regulation.
Unit 4: Developments in the Global Economy
You will explore globalisation, trade, exchange rates, poverty, inequality and economic development. You will learn to analyse global economic challenges and evaluate policy responses.
In this couse, you will learn how language works in different contexts, how meaning is shaped, and how writers and speakers use language to communicate identity, power and purpose. The course develops your analytical, creative, comparative and research skills through spoken, written and multimodal texts.
Unit 1: Language: Context and Identity
You will explore how language choices are shaped by audience, purpose, context and identity. You will also practise creating your own texts for specific audiences and situations.
Unit 2: Language in Transition
You will study how English changes over time and across the world. You will explore global English, spoken language, and the influence of other languages on English.
Unit 3: Crafting Language
You will develop your own writing by studying different genres, style models and audiences. You will also learn to reflect critically on your language choices in a commentary.
Unit 4: Investigating Language
You will carry out focused research into an area such as global English, child language, language and power, or language and technology. You will learn to analyse unseen data and build an evidence-based argument.
In this course, you will learn how to analyse poetry, prose and drama across different periods, genres and contexts. The course develops your close reading, essay writing, comparison and critical interpretation skills.
Unit 1: Post-2000 Poetry and Prose
You will study contemporary poetry and one post-2000 prose text. You will learn how writers use language, form and structure to shape meaning.
Unit 2: Drama
You will study one pre-1900 and one post-1900 drama text. You will explore dramatic techniques, context and different interpretations of plays.
Unit 3: Poetry and Prose
You will study poetry and prose linked by a shared theme. You will learn to compare texts and analyse how writers present ideas across different literary forms.
Unit 4: Shakespeare and Pre-1900 Poetry
You will study one Shakespeare play and a selection of pre-1900 poetry. You will develop your ability to analyse literary language, context and critical perspectives.
In this course, you will learn how psychologists explain human behaviour, thought and development using evidence from different approaches. The course develops your analytical, evaluative and research skills through classic studies, contemporary issues and real-world applications.
Unit 1: Social and Cognitive Psychology
You will explore how people think, remember and behave in social situations. You will study topics such as obedience, prejudice, memory, perception and key psychological research methods.
Unit 2: Biological Psychology, Learning Theories and Development
You will learn how biology, learning and development shape behaviour. You will study the brain, aggression, phobias, conditioning, attachment and child development.
Unit 3: Applications of Psychology
You will apply psychological ideas to real-world areas such as development, criminology or health. You will learn how psychological research can explain behaviour and inform practical interventions.
Unit 4: Clinical Psychology and Psychological Skills
You will study mental health, diagnosis, treatments and explanations of psychological disorders. You will also develop your ability to evaluate studies, use research methods and analyse psychological data.
In this course, you will learn how to investigate the past, analyse historical evidence and evaluate different interpretations of major events. The course develops your essay writing, source analysis and critical thinking skills across a range of modern historical periods.
Unit 1: Depth Study with Interpretations
You will study a focused historical period in depth and explore different interpretations of key events. You will learn how to build arguments using detailed knowledge and historical debate.
Unit 2: Breadth Study with Source Evaluation
You will examine change and continuity across a broader historical period. You will learn how to analyse primary sources and evaluate their usefulness for historical enquiry.
Unit 3: Thematic Study with Source Evaluation
You will explore a major historical theme across a longer period of time. You will develop your ability to compare developments and use evidence to support historical judgements.
Unit 4: International Study with Historical Interpretations
You will study an international historical topic and engage with different historians’ views. You will learn how to evaluate interpretations and construct sustained, well-supported arguments.
In this course, you will learn how physical and human processes shape the world, from natural hazards and globalisation to cities, coasts, resources and development. The course develops your geographical knowledge, data skills, fieldwork understanding and ability to evaluate real-world issues.
Unit 1: Global Challenges
You will explore major global issues such as natural hazards, climate risk, globalisation and migration. You will learn how people and places are connected and affected by global change.
Unit 2: Geographical Investigations
You will study practical geographical enquiries, including topics such as crowded coasts and urban problems. You will learn how to analyse data, interpret evidence and evaluate geographical investigations.
Unit 3: Contested Planet
You will examine major environmental and geopolitical challenges, including energy, water, biodiversity, development and superpowers. You will learn how competing interests shape decisions about the planet’s future.
Unit 4: Researching Geography
You will carry out focused research into a chosen geographical issue. You will learn how to build an evidence-based argument using data, case studies and wider geographical understanding.
In this course, you will learn how society shapes human behaviour, identity and opportunity. The course develops your ability to analyse sociological theories, research evidence and contemporary social issues.
Paper 1: Socialisation, Identity and Methods of Research
You will explore how people develop identities through culture, socialisation and social relationships. You will also learn how sociologists design research and evaluate evidence.
Paper 2: The Family
You will study different family structures, roles and relationships. You will explore how families are shaped by social change, inequality and cultural expectations.
Paper 3: Education
You will examine the role of education in society and how it affects opportunity, achievement and inequality. You will learn to evaluate different sociological explanations of educational outcomes.
Paper 4: Globalisation, Media and Religion
You will study major social institutions and global changes, including media influence, religious belief and globalisation. You will learn how these shape identities, power and social change.
N.B.: While you are free to choose AQA Philosophy in your Sixth Form studies, we only recommend this course to students who are based in the UK and/or are able to be in the UK for exams.
In this course, you will learn how to think carefully about knowledge, morality, God and the mind. The course develops your ability to analyse arguments, evaluate ideas and construct clear, reasoned philosophical essays.
Epistemology
You will explore what knowledge is and how far we can trust sources such as perception and reason. You will learn to assess arguments about certainty, scepticism and the limits of human understanding.
Moral Philosophy
You will study major ethical theories and apply them to real-world moral issues. You will learn to evaluate different views about what makes actions right or wrong.
Metaphysics of God
You will examine arguments for and against the existence of God. You will explore issues such as religious experience, the problem of evil and the nature of divine attributes.
Metaphysics of Mind
You will study the relationship between the mind and the body. You will evaluate theories about consciousness, mental states and whether the mind can be fully explained by the physical brain.
Fees
One fee covers it all: rigorous exam prep and elite university admissions guidance are included in one annual fee.
Academic programme
for 2026-2027 school year
The core sixth form route, completed in two years, is for students motivated to gain admissions to world-class universities worldwide.
Optional experiential year
for 2026-2027 school year
For students who would benefit from applied experience before university enrollment or next-step decisions.
Admissions
Applying to join Maxima is straightforward. We are selective but incorporate a holistic assessment procedure rather than being 100% indexed on your past academic performance, though that is an important element.
Application timeline
Application to join the October 2026 cohort is open. All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and we may close applications anytime at our discretion.
Want to join us for October 2026 start?
Apply to join MaximaQuestions
Here are the questions families usually ask after reviewing the fee and programme structure.
Maxima is different from the majority of online schools out there in the following ways:
Maxima offers the same level of academic rigour and university prep as the best private and prep schools in the UK, US, and beyond. However, what sets us apart is our remote/online delivery AND a highly affordable fee structure compared to private/prep schools, which allows more ambitious students around the world to benefit from our programme. Furthermore, our experiential career year is unparalleled and something that many of the existing private/prep schools simply do not have the know-how to deliver.
You can absolutely go through sixth form by homeschooling yourself - we've done it ourselves! But here's why choosing Maxima might make sense:
Not at the moment. Maxima offers a fully online programme.
This allows us to offer our programming to a much wider student population, which is something we're proud of.
Furthermore, by not offering an in-person component, we are able to keep tuition fees at a much lower rate than traditional prep/boarding schools in the UK, the US, and beyond.
Maxima's academic curriculum is laser focused on preparing students gain admission to elite universities worldwide (especially in the UK and the US). Many top universities have rigorous academic requirements as well as subject-specific requirements. The subjects we have selected to cover at Maxima reflect these requirements.
We believe that being laser focused on a smaller set of academically-inclined subjects, we do a better job in helping our students excel.
Not at the moment. We do plan to launch a comprehensive GCSE curriculum in the next few years. Stay tuned!
Not at the moment. We are actively developing a US-aligned curriculum right now. Our plan is to offer a range of Advanced Placement courses that both UK, US, and foreign universities accept as evidence of academic attainment. In addition, we plan on offering SAT prep alongside our flagship university/college counselling programme. For more information, make sure to check our website or subscribe to our mailing list.
Yes, Maxima offers US college admissions counselling. Many of our students aspire to gain admissions to both UK and US universities. As we have extensive experience guiding students toward an offer from both sides of the pond, this is something that is included by design in our counselling programme.
Each year, we are proud to offer up to 2 students with full-ride scholarship, covering 2 years of tuition (not inclusive of the optional career readiness year).
The scholarship is merit-based, and competition is high. But we encourage every student to apply for a chance to be considered.
Application details for the scholarship can be found in the admission application form.
We do offer sibling discounts - if two students from the same family simultaneously enroll at Maxima, we'll offer £300 off for the second sibling. We will ask for proof that you are indeed siblings when you officially enrol 🙂
The optional career readiness year works as follows:
*On a monthly basis, your career counsellor will be checking in with you to make sure everything is going smoothly. It's also a great opportunity for you to reflect on learnings and insights you gained along the way.
For the moment, the experiential career year is only reserved for students who have gone through our A Levels curriculum. We give you a hand in pursuing internship or research project applications, so it is very helpful if we have a good understanding of your profile - if you have spent 2 years learning with Maxima, we have a much easier time with that!
In the future, we plan on opening up the optional career readiness year to a wider student population.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have a burning desire to pursue an internship or project - we might be able to work something out for exceptional students even if you haven't studied with Maxima previously.
That's definitely an option! If you have missed the application window for the standard Autumn enrollment date (usually October), reach out to our team and we can work out a custom enrollment date and get you up to speed with your cohort.
Blog
Our blog acts as a repository on school news as well as insights and tips on a range of topics, such as A Level prep, university application strategies, and how to position yourself career-wise in an AI-driven world.
Apply today
Apply to join Maxima today by filling out our application form. Or, if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our Admissions team!
