To consider a report on the role of the Virtual School, the indicative outcomes for Looked After Children in the Academic Year 2013/14, the steps taken since 2013 to develop the role of the Virtual School in order to improve outcomes for Looked After Children and young people and the next stages of its development.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which provided information on the role of the Virtual School for Looked After Children and the indicative outcomes for Looked After Children in Central Bedfordshire in the Academic Year 2013/14.  In addition the report identified the steps taken since September 2013 to develop the role of the Virtual School in order to improve outcomes for Looked After Children and identified the next stages of its development.

The Assistant Director School Improvement and Virtual School Head worked through the report introducing and developing the information contained under the following headings:

• The Virtual School
• Background
• Exclusions
• Attendance
• Pupil’s Achievement

(including Key Stage 1 provisional results 2013/14, Key Stage 2 provisional results 2014, Key Stage 4 provisional results 2014)

• Governance
• Priority actions for 2014/15

Members’ attention was drawn to how schools used the Pupil Premium funding to improve the progress and outcomes of Looked After Children.  The meeting was advised that the Pupil Premium had been increased to £1900 per pupil in April 2014 and that how, after consultation with schools and other stakeholders, it had been agreed that the Virtual School would retain £400 from the £1900 allocated to each pupil.  The remaining £1500 would be given to schools on a termly basis to support them in raising educational achievement whilst schools could request additional funding to support Looked After Children, if needed, using the clearly defined application process.

With regard to permanent exclusions the meeting noted that the national comparative data would be released later in December 2014 and it would be included in the Virtual School annual report in March 2015.

The Assistant Director School Improvement advised the meeting of the forthcoming introduction of a Pupil Premium for pre-school children and the support for the introduction of a Pupil Premium to be paid to students post 16 as there was nothing currently in place for this age group.  The Virtual School Head referred to the significant positive impact the latter would have for students if it were to proceed.

A Member queried the level and type of support offered to foster carers who were experiencing challenging behaviour by Looked After Children with regard to school attendance.  In response the Virtual School Head, whilst acknowledging the emotional problems so often experienced by Looked After Children, stressed that expectations of such children should be the same as those living with their birth parents.  She explained that a package of measures to assist children could be provided, as could alternative pathways, with each case being considered on an individual basis.  The Head of Corporate Parenting added that foster carers were supported by social workers.

The Chairman referred to the performance by Year 11 Looked After Children in GCSE English and mathematics and discussion took place on whether the level of attainment could be improved.  Some Members expressed concern that expectations were set too high and that it was unrealistic to expect all children to reach the required standard.  In response, however, the Virtual School Head explained that a support system was offered to students to assist them and that expectations of examination performance were based on the outcomes of the children in Year 6.  She emphasised that Looked After Children should be given the opportunity to reach their potential.

Further discussion on this issue including the cause of the disengagement by some Looked After Children in Year 11 which adversely affected their examination results.  A Children in Care Council representative commented that disengagement took place because of the feeling of uncertainty regarding future direction. 

NOTED

the progress made to date through the work of the Virtual School in improving the educational achievements by Looked After Children and the measures identified to develop the role of the School in order to further improve the academic outcomes of Looked After Children in the future.