Agenda item

The Annual Report of Virtual School is attached.

[To Follow]

The Head of Virtual School spoke to the report and shared that within the last six months in education, things had been different to what was considered normal. Within the report was information for the whole of the last year.

Some of the highlights from the virtual school included the PEPs which exceeded their targets for 2019/20 and was quality assured as ‘outstanding’; and the youth funds had seen five young person or a looked after child start in the Leaving Care Academy as apprentices. They would directly be involved with the panel and other parts of the service, and this was a proud moment. The work was broadly in line with Key Stage 4. The cohort was a different group many with additional needs.

There was also outstanding results with the younger children who ranked second overall nationally for Key Stage 1-2 progress; and eighteen young people was confirmed to be going to university.

Panel Members congratulated the work achieved by the Virtual School. It was a celebratory to students achieving such great work within the society.

Though there were positive compliments to the virtual school, it was noted that there were two young person who were permanently excluded due to extreme circumstances. Members enquired of the extreme circumstances reported in the report and the subsequent pathway provided to the young person. Officers informed that the exclusion was a consequence to a large public disturbance within a criminal nature, and thus it was difficult for the two young persons involved to remain within the school safely. Members wanted clarification that students who were looked after were not managed by that process.

The care leaver representative commended on the young people acknowledging that the current pandemic did not affect their performance in education, which was a great achievement. Comments were made regarding the proposed apprentices to ensure that the care leavers were supported, seen and treated as professionals and not treated any different, due to their experience. Officers informed that they were working with the youth service coordinator around the recruitment for apprentices to ensure young people do not have a negative experience.

The foster career representative also noted the good work achieved from virtual school in looked after children and summer events that took place. This was a two-hour face to face event that was only offered to school year 11; and though it was a missed opportunity for the young people of all ages to benefit from this, it was understandable. Reflecting the report, it was noted that the virtual school were able to support children particularly vulnerable. There were two cases where children were not able to attend school during the lockdown and this needed to be added to the chart within their report to reflect a true picture especially if victual school was involved. Officers welcomed the information shared to review in further detail.

Further comments included the notion that virtual school teachers working from home and was able to complete PEPS, but also foster carer was helping to educate children at home, and those carers who accommodated unaccompanied asylum seeking children found it difficult to help and support. Further support and face to face teaching would have helped foster carers who were struggling. It was also a highlight as some of the carers turned into full-time teachers.

Virtual school were also working on individual packs for students in preparation for another possible pandemic lockdown. Officer further informed that the review of foster carers was in progress and officers were reviewing how carers could receive direct support. There was a proposal for a cohort of 17 young people who needed more support. Virtual school taught some of the young people and a lot of resourcing was shared with the young people who in return was overwhelmed. Going forward, officers would have audit for foster carers’ experience around this work.

Panel Members welcomed the good comprehensive report provided and again appreciated the good work virtual school had achieved over the years. Members addressed the great comments recorded by Ofsted and appreciated the young people who had worked so hard throughout the year and during the pandemic. The challenges noted within the report was the attendance of young people, and Panel Members questioned whether the poor attendance was during the difficult pandemic period or whether it was an issue during school. Officers responded that attendance had been a concern prior to the coronavirus pandemic. Though this issue was small and a significance for attendance at school, it was a high issue against the national cohort. Officers were undertaking a more detailed piece around tracking, which had been followed closely. Some had thrived during lockdown and remained in better places than previously, and officers were looking at slow progress as they returned. Officers further informed that PEPs and targets were in place, achievement and attendance in school was a key focus as well as PEPs.

The Chair appreciated hearing testimonies first hand from foster carers and young persons who had a transformative and opportunity in education, and also teachers, young persons and foster carers building relationships with each other. Further, the Chair commended the team and their hard work with the PEP.