Online Schooling

Hi I just found out we'll have to move back to the UK in 2-12 months time. I say back as my husband and I are both British and are really happy about it.

BUT, we've lived here for 16 years now and have kids in school! For the 2011-2012 school year we'll have a 5th (UK Yr 6), 7th (UK yr 7), 9th (UK yr 10), 11th (UK yr 12) & 12th grader (UK yr 13).

So, as we can't afford any private schools like TASIS etc our choices are; state schools, homeschooling or online schooling.

As the 3 eldest will be going straight into the exam years I was thinking the best option for them might be to continue with the system they know and graduate online.

Has anyone had any experience of this, or even know if it's possible? I'm sure they'd cope with the time difference if it meant they didn't have to start class until the afternoon!! 

Also does anyone know how long I could legally keep them out of school while I was looking for the right one or waiting for a place to become available?
For example if we arrived in May or June after US schools are out, could we just keep them out until the following Sept? What about earlier than that, say Feb/March?
They'd be having to learn a completely new system anyway so I can't see the point of having them start mid-way through a year.

We don't know where we'll be living yet, but probably within the Greater London area.

There are a few online schools that I know kids use (we have kids with medical issues sometimes that need to be out for a while).  Most of the time the difference in time zone doesn't matter - they have videos and assignments.  I'm sure it can all be worked out (and that they are used to overseas use).  I'm not at work right now (summer), but could ask about it for you. 

Thanks Onetiger. If you could ask I'd be very grateful.
I've been doing some research and am surprised at how little info there is out there. I would have thought it would be a big thing with families moving around even within the country!
Most of those I find say you must live within their state, as they mail books etc. I was going to contact my state online school and ask what the policy is if the student moves after enrolling.

Well, it is a tax issue. 

If you move out of your school district they are no longer required to pay for your schooling, so the fact they have managed to get their act together and do an online state-wide school amazes me. 

I contacted an online school in my state today and they didn't seem to think it would be a problem, other thanbeing required to attend an orientation session at the beginning of the year and more inportantly requiring you to be present for CRT tests at the end of the year. But they seemed to think they could work with us on those. 

Unfortunately it seems actually getting a place with them is a bit of a lottery!