Agenda item

Annual Report Virtual School Headteacher Academic Year 2017/18

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services relative to the achievement of the Virtual School for the 2017-2018 academic year. The Director reported that almost all of the young people (YP) in the programme were Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) and enrolled in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses. Two YP were in university.

 

How can the Virtual School and corporate parents support all our Looked After Children to reach the expected standard of progress? (*Subsequent to the meeting, the following response was provided):

 

A consistent and collective application of the Virtual School Headteacher (VSH) standards by all partners, application of Personal Education Plans (PEP) which are carried out to a high standard, effective monitoring arrangements, effective use of Pupil Premium are some of the ways of ensuring good standards are met.

 

How is the Virtual School progressing the ambition to have zero young people who are not in education, employment or training?

 

The Virtual School was building positive relationships with partners such as universities and colleges. Zero children are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). To maintain this, the Virtual School must continue to engage with YP to bring them into/ keep them in education and employment.

 

The Deputy Chairman requested statistical data regarding how the YP progress and who is progressing.

 

Members queried how exclusions were dealt with. The Director advised that although the Department of Community and Children’s Services should be consulted when exclusion is being considered, this has not always been the case. A child’s circumstances need to be understood in disciplinary situations, such as trauma and attachment issues.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

Supporting documents: