Our mission is shaped by the statutory responsibilities outlined in Promoting the Education of Looked After Children (DfE, 2014). These principles underpin our annual reporting, school improvement planning, and daily practice. We are committed to improving outcomes for children in care, previously looked-after children, and care leavers.

1. Attainment & Progress

 We are committed to closing the attainment and progress gap between looked after children and their peers through stringent tracking of data and provision of suitable interventions. We are dedicated to promoting a culture of high aspirations.

2. Attendance & Exclusions

We rigorously monitor attendance and exclusions and act promptly where there are concerns to minimise absence and reduce exclusions.

3. Educational Provision

We ensure that looked after children have access to a suitable range of high quality education placement options that take account of their duty to promote pupils’ educational achievement. We champion educational stability and have strategies in place to support transition.

4. Personal Education Plans (PEPs)

We have robust systems to ensure up-to-date, effective and high quality electronic PEPs which drive forward improvement.

5. Training & CPD

We structure an annual training programme which aims to meet the needs of those responsible for promoting the educational achievement of looked after children.

6. Pupil Premium and Funding

We have systems in place to delegate Pupil Premium Plus to our school placements and AfC Virtual School uses funds imaginatively to raise attainment and improve wellbeing. We routinely monitor the impact of this spending to improve student outcomes.

7. Communication and Working With Others

We work together with partners to ensure that the educational achievement of children looked-after by the authority is seen as a priority by everyone who has responsibilities for promoting their welfare.  We regularly update our records so that effective information, reporting and data systems are in place.

8. AfC Virtual College

Care Leavers are supported into Education, Employment and Training.  There are high aspirations around engagement in further and higher education.  Apprenticeship pathways are developed and there is a greater incidence of care leavers accessing this route. Partners are supported, challenged and training is provided. An Executive Board to advocate for this group is established.  EET figures for care leavers increases.

9. AfC Extended Duties

The Extended Duties Mission Statement supports those children with a social worker who are not children in care. It includes delivery of support for Previously Looked After Children and those on a Child in Need or Child Protection Plan.

10. SEND, Health & SDQs

AfC Virtual School supports additional educational and health needs of our children. This includes championing solutions with partner agencies to facilitate educational engagement and stability.