‘School’ is a virtual reality for Stephanie

OLDHAM'S newest school is not the shiny new building at Radclyffe . . . or Failsworth. In fact, it is a school without walls, windows or even a roof. This is a ‘virtual school’ for youngsters in care. But it does have a real leader, as the Chronicle found out...

It’s not easy to get your head around a school without a building, playground or books — but that’s exactly what Stephanie Doherty is in charge of.

Imagine the youngsters currently being cared for by the council when it acts as their corporate parent, because of family breakdowns or problems. There are 360 — about the size of a small primary school.

Now divide them into their year groups, from nursery up to GCSE candidates at 16 — and those staying on to 18. Each year group, although scattered around Oldham’s 120 schools, is treated as if they were all in a class together.

The virtual school has its own board of governors and a new data monitoring system brings together all the information about each child.

Just like ordinary parents, Stephanie and her colleagues will be able to check on their children’s targets, achievements, teacher assessments and problems.

And the aim is to analyse the information to spot stumbling blocks to learning, or flag up opportunities to help them aim higher.

To underline the parental role of the council, senior officers in the children, young people and families department are taking a special interest in each year group.

For example, the department’s executive director Janet Donaldson, who is also a qualified nursery nurse, is leading by example, looking after the very youngest children. The idea is to narrow the achievement gap for children in care who are likely to get fewer GCSEs than other teenagers.

And it will try to encourage and motivate the youngsters to aim for the highest qualifications they can get.

Oldham is proud that last year, of the 60 children in care nationally who went to university, three were from Oldham.

But at GCSE level, achievements are not so good.

Stephanie added: “Nationally, 12 per cent of looked-after children got five A* to C grades, including maths and English, compared with 59 per cent of children living with their parents.

“And that figure is mirrored in Oldham.”

A Government White Paper last year promised to improve the lives and opportunities of children in care.

It made clear that all schools would have to have a member of staff responsible for the education of those children.

Now Oldham is going one step further and has appointed Stephanie as virtual school co-ordinator.

Janet Doherty (no relation) who is Oldham’s service director for learning, development and localities, explained that Oldham made a bid for Government funding for a pilot scheme last year.

She added: “But because it attracted lots of interest, we weren’t successful.

“However, Oldham decided to go-ahead anyway in order to improve things for children locally, and once everyone started talking about it, we thought it was a really wonderful idea.”

Children in care may have complex backgrounds, and have moved around a lot, so the one thing Government is stressing is that they should not move at key times such as SAT tests or GCSE years.

They may also be involved with many agencies, from social workers, to schools, the health service and substance misuse services.

The new database draws together all the information on a child in care, to make it available on request to authorised managers. It ensures that any absences are reported on a daily basis, and each child has a Personal Education Plan (PEP) devised by the child, their parents, carers, teachers and social workers.

One of Stephanie’s key duties has been to revise the PEP process and ensure that key people in each child’s life takes full responsibility for their role in raising aspirations and attainment.

Each real school in the borough has a designated teacher who responsible for the children in care.

Carers also receive training on the PEP process, which actively encourages them to become involved and is part of the rolling programme of healthy care training that foster carers and residential carers undertake. The new Oldham database attracted a lot of interest at a recent North-West conference for councils which have set up virtual schools, including the pilot authorities in Stockport and Salford,as well as Rochdale, Trafford and Wirral.

Outside formal schooling, the Go4It! initiative is a one-week motivational programme, where the looked-after children in Year 6, about to make the transition to secondary school, get the chance to have trips to Castleshaw Outdoor Leisure Centre, or Oldham Library and the Lifelong Learning Centre, art galleries and museums.

Stephanie said: “It builds their self-esteem and confidence which makes a difference at school.

“It looks at everything and helps them realise they can achieve their dreams, and is extremely successful.

“One of the children brought her brothers and sisters along because they found it so good.

“This year’s theme is a Harry Potter/wizard idea at Lancaster University so the children can see for themselves what university is like.”

Stephanie, who has worked in Oldham for 16 years, started in training and development. Six years ago, she became the learning mentoring co-ordinator.

In her new role, which she took up in December, she is looking forward to a celebration event in September when schools, governors, the children, staff from residential children’s homes, and carers will reward the achievements of all the pupils in her virtual school.