5 Issues Solved by Online School With Jamie Beaton

Crimson Global Academy was created to challenge what a high school could be.

Dr Jamie Beaton is the founder and CEO of Crimson Global Academy. After attending top universities including Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford, and founding Crimson Education in 2013, he saw firsthand the gaps in traditional education that were holding students back.

He believed students needed something different. A school that allowed them to move faster, go deeper, access better teachers, and connect with ambitious peers from around the world.

Crimson Global Academy was launched in 2019. Since then, it has grown to serve over 1,300 students across more than 65 countries. CGA offers internationally recognized qualifications including the International GCSE, A Levels, Advanced Placement and the US Diploma, all delivered in real time by teachers with over 20 years of experience on average.

CGA was built to solve five key issues that students face in traditional schools.

Five Key Issues CGA Was Designed to Resolve

1. Limited Access to Top Teachers

When you go to a place like Harvard or Stanford, you are taught by some of the most respected academics in the world. But in high school, students are typically limited to the teachers who live in their area. Even if they are dedicated and experienced, schools are constrained by location and resources when it comes to hiring.

CGA removes that barrier entirely. As an online-first school, CGA recruits top teachers from around the world, many of whom are examiners for Cambridge or Edexcel, hold advanced degrees and have decades of classroom experience.

Whether you live on Waikiki Island or in Okinawa, you can tap into phenomenal teaching through CGA, and with an average class size of just 10 to 12 students, that experience is personal, interactive and designed for high achievement.

2. Traditional Classrooms Are Not Built for Tech-Savvy Students

How CGA prepares students for a digital and data-driven future.

Many students aiming for top universities today are also preparing for careers in computer science, data analytics, software engineering and technology-driven fields. This requires a deep understanding of both technical subjects and the digital tools shaping the world.

At CGA, students are immersed in a tech-forward environment. Courses like Computer Science and Further Mathematics are offered through our A Level and AP pathways. Students use tools like OneNote, Canvas and subject-specific apps every day.

Teachers are trained not only in their subject areas but also in how to deliver content digitally by using breakout rooms, whiteboard tools and live feedback to build understanding and confidence. The result is a classroom that reflects the real world and prepares students for it.

3. Lack of Expert University and Career Guidance

Getting into a top university or competitive program takes more than strong grades. It requires strategic subject selection, extracurricular planning, and a clear understanding of what admissions teams are looking for.

Most traditional schools simply don’t have the resources or experience to offer this level of guidance. At CGA, students are supported by advisors who have helped thousands gain admission to the world’s top universities.

Whether a student wants to study engineering at Stanford or philosophy at Oxford, our guidance team supports every step, from course selection to application timelines.

4. Delayed Exposure to Opportunity and Global Thinking

Many students go through high school without being exposed to fields like entrepreneurship, economics, public policy or global issues. For most, these subjects only appear at university — long after subject selection has already shaped their path.

At CGA, students are introduced to advanced concepts and global conversations earlier. From the age of 11, they join classrooms with ambitious peers from around the world. This exposure opens doors not just to academic content, but to diverse perspectives and ideas.

In our classrooms, students learn from each other as well as from their teachers. They work on international projects, lead clubs, compete in global competitions and develop the confidence to speak, debate and present.

5. Learning That Is Based on Age, Not Ability

In most schools, students move through subjects based on their age. Whether a student is gifted in math or needs extra time in English, they’re expected to move at the same pace as their year group.

This model is outdated. Around the world, students in some countries study years ahead of others, and even within the same school, students may have very different levels of readiness across subjects.

At CGA, we place students by ability, not by age. That means a 13-year-old can take A Level Math while still completing Pre-IG subjects in other areas. It also means students can spread exams over multiple years, take more subjects, or work at a pace that reflects their goals.

Our placement tools and diagnostics, developed with input from data scientists and educators from institutions like Harvard and Stanford, ensure students are matched to the right level.