Part 2: The IOS Story
Uncertainty, Ultrasounds and Unexpected Alignment
…and things were about to get really dramatic.
By week 12 of Ruth’s pregnancy, things seemed… okay. She was still very unwell and largely unable to “do” anything, but they were surviving. And it was around this time that a second substantial miracle took place.
Steve and Lyn Richards — pioneers in the online Christian homeschooling movement since 1999 — reached out to Jonathan unexpectedly. They were the directors of NorthStar Worldwide Learning and were looking to step down. After a few conversations, and despite having other offers, they felt led to merge their work with Immanuel Online School and for Jonathan to take over.
What made this especially remarkable was that NorthStar used the exact same UK hosting provider and already had a compatible virtual learning environment in place — some of their courses could be used during IOS’s first year. They also had around 70 students enrolled — mostly families but some from Christian schools using their curriculum. The model wasn’t identical to what Jonathan envisioned (he had a strong conviction that IOS should be “live track” — with live teaching), but this seemed like a providentially complementary fit.
Through the merger, Immanuel Online School also gained stellar Christian teachers who shared a strong Biblical worldview. Conversations about the way forward began — prayerful, practical and full of possibility.
In the midst of all this, it was time for the 20-week scan.
They had declined the Down’s Syndrome screening at the 12-week stage, knowing that — regardless of the outcome — it wouldn’t change anything in terms of continuing with the pregnancy. Ruth had returned to work part-time as Head of Computing by this point, though still very weak. She had lost over two stone in the first trimester and recovery was slow.
At the 20-week scan, the consultant sat Ruth and Jonathan down and carefully wrote three things in her notes.
The baby appeared unusually small. There were no placental issues and nothing obvious in terms of cause — but her professional concern was chromosomal abnormalities. She listed:
1. Down’s Syndrome — a real possibility. “You should have screened,” she said.
2. Dwarfism — based on repeated measurements.
3. Skeletal dysplasia — potentially fatal, with many different forms.
“Do you really think it’s Down’s?”
She replied that it was a possibility and that they should be prepared.
They couldn’t talk much on the drive home. But when they got back, sitting together on the sofa in stunned silence, Jonathan looked at Ruth and, half-laughing, half-serious, said:
“Well... maybe we’ll start a Down’s Centre!”
It was a moment of beautiful optimism — and yes, they would have. But they also prayed in the next few weeks like they had never prayed before. In submission, but knowing that it was possible to “bring your requests” in faith and surrender.
They were also able to have a brief phone call that Friday with another consultant at a hospital where Ruth’s brother worked. He kindly agreed to see them for a follow-up scan the following Monday.
That Sunday, Ruth and Jonathan stood before their church. They shared what had been “written” — the doctor’s concerns — and also the exciting news of the new venture with the school. The church, every single member, stretched out their hands and prayed — for healing, strength and courage.
Monday brought both reassurance and further uncertainty.
The senior consultant did a more detailed ultrasound. His conclusion? From what he could see, it wasn’t Down’s. He seemed surprised that the previous doctor had noted it so definitively. He studied the baby’s heart and head carefully and told them they could confidently rule it out. A blood test would follow (and later confirmed the same).
However, the baby’s measurements were still far off the charts — dangerously small. He deleted one particular data point, saying it looked like an error, but admitted he couldn’t rule out other conditions. In his opinion the baby looked healthy but the uncertainty lingered.
So, that’s where things stood:
A growing school they weren’t sure would have a single live track student by September.
And a growing baby — growing, they hoped — due 2nd October, just four weeks after the school launch.
Almost everything had to be paused.
TestandTrack.io was wound down, though it remained viable, with around 70 faithful schools still using it. But Ruth knew that without her full attention, it would likely fade (it did!).
She also made a huge decision: after 15 years, she decided she would resign from her position at the school.
Toward the end of the pregnancy, things got even more difficult. Ruth’s blood pressure began to rise — dangerously. There were concerns about pre-eclampsia. She wasn’t feeling well, and there was still so much to do.
And yet… things were slowly taking shape with the school.
There was an overwhelming amount to get through:
* Timetabling
* Learning portal set-up
* Coding specialist plugins and a lot of development (programming)
* Paying for specialists to create content
* Editing and refining courses
* Sorting business plans and legal frameworks
* Structuring roles, models, and policies
* Recruiting tutors and allocating subjects
All of this — and not a single live track student had signed up yet.
And yet, with the merger with NorthStar and the support of Steve and Lyn Richards, as well as the support provided by Christian Concern, things felt more optimistic. The foundation was stronger. The vision was more than a dream — it was starting to materialise.
(The picture above was taken shortly after the hyperemesis had eased and Ruth was beginning to feel better)
But the drama wasn’t over.
In fact, something even more unexpected was just around the corner...