What is a Virtual School?

The Children and Families Act 2014 requires every local authority to have at least one person appointed to promote the education of Children in Care.

The Virtual School does not exist in real terms as a building and children and young people do not attend. We are a team of dedicated professionals with a duty to support Children in Care, care leavers and children and young people with a social worker to succeed in education, employment and training.

Cheshire West and Chester’s Virtual School sits within the Education and Inclusion branch of Children’s Services. Our primary role is championing the needs of all our young people to ensure that they are safe and achieve well at all stages of their journey towards adulthood.

Like a bricks and mortar school, we monitor our young people’s attendance, attainment and achievement. We work with social workers, parents, carers, school staff and other professionals to ensure aspirational targets are set for all our young people across the authority, and those placed out of area, and that the right support and challenge is in place to help them achieve their potential in all aspects of their lives.

Adam Croft

Headteacher of Cheshire West and Chester Virtual School

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