Switching to distance learning.
There is nothing stopping you from switching from in the classroom to distance learning. Speaking from expierience because this is exactly what I did I do not reccomend it. For me it was due to personal reasons me not able to be with family enough etc, it was a bit of a tough time. I went to London Metropolitan to do the in house training and I was commuting to London everyday which meant 6am trains and late nights home with hardly anytime to myself, it wasn't very nice so decided to switch to distance learning thinking it would give me the best of both worlds. However, I found that it really wasnt worth it, without being able to communicate with other people with questions. being able to make friends and help each other out etc studying alone became alot harder, yes true I did have a tutor I could phone, but it wasn't quite the same as being able to ask a teacher, or even someone sitting next to you who understands just a bit better than you do.
I know its difficult, if you have work or family commitments but I am going back to residential training to finish off this course, I have decided this has to come before family and anything for me right now, it is my future and I am going to have to move away from family for a few months in order to complete it, but hey it is only 6months.
In short I believe that you will have a far greater knowledge about the subjects if you are around likeminded people who are there for the same reason you are. You have to remember its not about passing the exams although thats the target at the end of the day they are trying to make you better pilots and I don't reccomend doing it by yourself.
Well just my thoughts...