Virtual Schools exist to promote the education of disadvantaged children and young people placed in care and those who are previously looked after. They play a crucial role in improving life chances and opportunities for these students. The dedication and effective communication of Virtual Schools is paramount to the children’s academic successes.
To showcase the outstanding achievements of care-experienced children and young people, the Virtual School community across London organised a grand celebration this summer called the Shining Stars Pan London Ceremony. The event aimed to raise awareness of Virtual Schools and acknowledge the hard work and determination of students, who have achieved success despite facing adversity. We were proud to be part of the event and present awards to exceptional students, in the form of £100 gift vouchers.
We work with over half of all virtual schools in England, including those in the twenty-three boroughs of London. Through our comprehensive tutoring programmes, we take pride in the significant role we play in improving the academic outcomes of disadvantaged children. In the last academic year, our fully qualified UK teachers tutored 800 disadvantaged students and registered an 8 month increase in academic attainment across this group.
The Shining Stars Pan London Ceremony took place at the historic Old Library in The Guildhall, with the support of the City of London Corporation. The event provided an opportunity to recognise the efforts of Virtual Schools in enhancing attendance, attainment, and achievement among the students.
In addition to celebrating their achievements, the ceremony also marked the expansion of Virtual Schools' responsibilities since September 2021. They now include supporting and promoting the education of all children with a social worker. Virtual School Headteachers have embraced these extended duties, with many increasing their staff numbers to meet the new demands.
The event received a special video message from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who congratulated the students and praised their resilience and determination. The awards were presented to the children and young people by esteemed guests, including the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Felicity Lyons; London’s Deputy Mayor, Joanne McCartney; Ian Thomas, Town Clerk to The City of London; Ruby Sayed, City of London Councillor; and Simon Barnes, CEO of TLC LIVE.
TLC LIVE is committed to supporting Virtual Schools with top-quality online tutoring for schools services, to help disadvantaged students reach their full potential.
By Josh Blackburn, COO at TLC LIVE