InventumInventum
vs
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Minerva Virtual Academy

Which Online School Is Right for Your Child?

Both schools deliver Cambridge IGCSEs and A-Levels online with real flexibility. But their pricing models, teaching approaches, and time-zone coverage are fundamentally different.

Inventum
Minerva Virtual Academy
Pricing
From €730 per subject
£8,830 per year (all subjects bundled)
Teaching model
Async, recorded, or live — you choose
Flipped learning with required fortnightly timetable
1-on-1 teaching
1-on-1 sessions with your subject teacher
Weekly mentor meetings (pastoral, not subject teaching)
Time zones
Truly global — study from any time zone, 24/7
UK (GMT/BST) and Gulf Standard Time only

€730

Starting price per subject

1-on-1

Teacher sessions included

24/7

Content access

3

Learning journeys

How it works

How Inventum Works

Minerva Virtual Academy uses a flipped-learning model: students prepare independently, then join live sessions on a fortnightly timetable — primarily in UK and Gulf time zones. Inventum gives you three genuinely different approaches, from fully asynchronous to live small-group, without anchoring your family to a fixed European school day.

Journey 1

Fully Asynchronous Learning

24/7 access to our premium core curriculum materials. Study entirely at your own pace, free from any fortnightly timetable or live attendance requirement. Perfect for highly independent learners.

Ideal for: Independent learners, professional athletes, globally mobile families

Journey 2

Recorded Precision Teaching

Expert recorded lessons you can pause, rewind, and re-watch until mastery is achieved. World-class instruction without any fixed timetable — study when you are most focused.

Ideal for: Students who need structure but cannot commit to fixed time slots

Journey 3

Live Precision Teaching

Small-group live sessions that are intimate and discussion-based — with a specialist subject teacher. Real-time engagement, unconstrained by a UK or Gulf-only school-day window.

Ideal for: Students who thrive on real-time interaction and collaborative problem-solving

Head-to-Head Comparison

Inventum vs. Minerva Virtual Academy

Pricing model
Inventum

Transparent, per-subject pricing from €730/year — pay only for what your child studies

Minerva Virtual Academy

£8,830 per year regardless of subject load — bundles everything whether used or not

Teaching model
Inventum

Async, recorded, or live — three genuinely different journeys, your child chooses

Minerva Virtual Academy

Flipped learning: async self-study prep required, then fortnightly timetabled live lessons

1-on-1 teacher sessions
Inventum

1-on-1 sessions with your subject teacher included per subject

Minerva Virtual Academy

Weekly 30-minute pastoral mentor meetings only — no 1-on-1 subject teaching included

Total Transparency

The Real Cost Comparison

Minerva Virtual Academy's £8,830 annual fee covers all subjects as a bundle — regardless of how many your child actually sits. Add the £880 deposit, £55 registration fee, and exam entry fees on top. Inventum charges per subject, so families only ever pay for what their child actually needs.

Pricing structure

Inventum

Per-subject, fully modular

Minerva Virtual Academy

Single annual fee (all subjects bundled)

3 A-Level subjects

Inventum

~€2,595 (~£2,210)

Minerva Virtual Academy

£8,830 per year + £880 deposit + exam fees

1-on-1 subject teaching

Inventum

Included with every subject teacher

Minerva Virtual Academy

Not included — mentor meetings are pastoral only

Time-zone coverage

Inventum

Any time zone, 24/7 — truly global

Minerva Virtual Academy

UK (GMT/BST) and Gulf Standard Time only

Payment plans

Inventum

Flexible: 1, 3, 6, or 10 instalments

Minerva Virtual Academy

Annual upfront (international); UK students may pay termly or monthly at a higher rate

A family doing three Cambridge A-Levels with Inventum pays around £2,210 — versus £8,830 per year at Minerva Virtual Academy.

See full pricing breakdown
Which School Is Right for You?

The Honest Answer

Minerva Virtual Academy might suit you if...

  • You want a full-school experience — assemblies, 40+ clubs, and termly in-person trips — alongside online academics
  • Your child is on the SEND register and benefits from a dedicated SENDCo team and trained pastoral mentors
  • You are based in the UK or Gulf region and the fortnightly timetable fits your family's routine
  • You value a single, all-inclusive annual fee and prefer not to manage per-subject enrolments

Inventum is built for you if...

  • You want to pay for Cambridge qualifications without a bundled annual fee — from €730 per subject, per year
  • You need true time-zone flexibility beyond UK and Gulf hours — for families in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, or anywhere else
  • You want 1-on-1 sessions with a subject specialist, not just pastoral mentor check-ins
  • Your child needs complete schedule freedom — fully async, recorded, or live — without a fortnightly timetable anchoring their week

Next step: Schedule a personal discovery call

Book a free academic fit call for your child.

Get an academic assessment, ask your questions, and leave with a clear online school plan before you make an enrolment decision.

  • Free academic assessment
  • No obligation to enroll
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Cambridge & Pearson accredited

Frequently Asked Questions.

All the tests and exams in the Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6) and Lower Secondary (Year 7-Year 9) are internal Inventum exams taken online. For the second year of the IGCSE program (Year 11), AS (Year 12), and A-Levels (Year 13), the exams have to be taken in a physical Cambridge or Pearson exam centre. You can find the list of exam centres worldwide here.

For the Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6) and Lower Secondary (Year 7-Year 9), you will receive a certificate from Inventum when you complete a year level. Cambridge issues your certificate for IGCSE. For AS and A-Levels, your certificate comes from Cambridge or Pearson, depending on which board's syllabus you follow.

Successful completion of A-Levels will give you access to universities around the world. This is the most recognised secondary school certificate globally by universities and employers.

In principle, this is possible, but it will require your time and dedication. You will still pay the fees for two years, as you will have access to 121 teaching, live lessons, etc., for both years.

You decide on the study schedule based on your preferences and timetable. Your dedicated study coach can help you make a schedule that suits your circumstances. When choosing Journey 3, you also commit to the live lessons schedule.

We use precision teaching, meaning the live lessons cover only the critical and most difficult parts of the curriculum. On average, there are two live lessons a week per subject.

This will depend on yourself, the number of chosen subjects and the year level, but on average, a full-time Learner spends approximately four hours a day studying.

The Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6) and Lower Secondary (Year 7- Year 9) have five mandatory subjects: English, Maths, Science, History and Geography. There are no mandatory subjects for IGCSE (Years 10&11) and A-Level programs (Years 12&13), but you choose them based on your interests and future plans.

For the Upper Primary (Year 5 & Year 6), Lower Secondary (Year 7-Year 9), and IGCSEs (Years 10&11), you will be required, as a full-time student, to take a minimum of five subjects and for the A-Level program (Years 12&13) a minimum of three subjects.

You can complete the application form on our website by clicking the “Apply” button.

Once we receive your application, we will contact you within 48 hours to arrange an onboarding call. During this call, you will be introduced to all our platforms, handbooks, and practices and assigned a dedicated study coach. After this, you are ready to start!

We are a non-selective school and will therefore not require a certain grade average, but we will assess every case individually. Learners need, however, to be fluent in English as this is the language of instruction.

We look at the Learner’s age and previous schooling history to determine the best starting point for them at Inventum. If there are any doubts, we recommend the Learner take a CAT4 test.

Our high flexibility learning model, combined with the level of support Learners can choose from, is a unique feature among online schools. Together with the Learner, we build the learning journey that caters to their individual needs. By following our mindset modules, we ensure they are ready for the future by educating them on emerging technologies and ensuring they grow as individuals.

Cambridge certificate is recognised globally by universities. We do not, however, have agreements with local educational authorities, so it is the parent’s responsibility to check the rules and possible restrictions for homeschooling or online schooling in their home country.

A-Levels ask students to specialise in three or four subjects in depth, while the IB requires six subjects across a broad range plus an extended essay and Theory of Knowledge. Both are recognised for university entry worldwide.

Read the full IB vs A-Levels comparison