Since April 2014 every local authority in England has had to appoint at least one person to fulfil the local authority’s statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of it’s Children in Care, wherever they live or are educated. This person is called the Head of the Virtual School. Peterborough has a team of teachers and other educational professionals who support the Virtual School Head in fulfilling these responsibilities, by promoting high aspirations and raising achievement through challenge, support and targeted intervention.

Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Our vision is that

All Children Known to Social Care will achieve educational outcomes enabling them to lead healthy, happy and fulfilled lives.

Welcome to Peterborough Virtual School. We are ambitious for every child and young person known to social care, and our work is rooted in the belief that education can transform lives. It is a powerful protective factor: broadening horizons, raising aspirations and helping children and young people to shape the futures they want for themselves.

Our role is to work alongside children, young people, families, carers, schools, settings, colleges, social care colleagues and wider partners to make sure that education is central to every child’s journey. We know that positive outcomes do not happen by chance. They are achieved through strong relationships, high aspirations, effective partnership working and a shared commitment to understanding what each child or young person needs to thrive.

As a Virtual School, we champion aspiration, opportunity and belonging. We support schools and partners to remove barriers, strengthen practice and ensure that children and young people feel seen, valued and supported in their education. Our focus is not only on responding to challenges, but on creating the conditions in which children can succeed and flourish.

There is much to be optimistic about. Across Peterborough, there is a growing recognition that educational success is everybody’s business. By working together, listening carefully to children and young people, and keeping their experiences at the centre of our decisions, we can continue to build a system that is ambitious, inclusive and responsive to their needs.

Our commitment is clear: we will continue to place children and young people at the heart of everything we do, championing their education, celebrating their strengths and working together to help every child and young person reach their potential.

Nichola Phillips Virtual School Head

Our Partnership and Outcomes team work closely with all early years settings and schools, as well as with multi-academy trusts, to ensure that policy and practice creates a relational, ambitious and aspirational culture for all children known to social care. Their support includes:

Advisory work in line with the development priorities of the school - for example developing the ability of governors to hold senior leaders accountable or curriculum considerations
A robust training offer for a range of stakeholders including schools, social workers and carers
Oversight of the statutory PEP process
Oversight of attainment and progress

Advisory work is offered at no charge for all schools in Peterborough to promote educational outcomes for children known to social care across the city. The team also provide support for schools outside of Peterborough attended by our children in care.

Our Inclusion and Engagement team support individual children in care at points in their educational journey where they may be in need of some support. This support can be initiated in a variety of ways including:

Data analysis showing that there is a need - for example a dip in attendance
Referrals from schools or social workers
Key points of transition - for example following a change of the child's home

The Inclusion and Engagement team provides both support and challenge. The intention is to empower the team around the child and ensure that educational outcomes remain a priority.

Our EET Team work to promote education, employment and training opportunities for young people through to the age of 25. This includes:

Inclusion and Engagement support for young people in years 12 and 13 including those who are NEET (not in education, employment and training)
EET advice and guidance for Care Leavers and the professionals supporting them
Support for pathways into Higher Education
Support for pathways into employment including careers guidance, work experience opportunities and short courses