Luton’s Virtual School
The Virtual School helps children in care and care-experienced young people succeed in education. While we don’t have a physical building, we provide events, training, and learning opportunities. We work with schools and other services to track progress and ensure each child gets the support they need.
How we help?
We collaborate with schools, social workers, and professionals to:
- improve education and well-being services
- offer advice, training, and guidance
- connect children to health and mental health support
- support education, training, and job opportunities
- provide learning and leisure activities
- ensure smooth transitions back into school
Our commitment
We aim to remove barriers to learning and create high expectations with strong support. Working with schools, colleges, and children’s services, we:
- promote attendance, progress, and inclusion
- strengthen partnerships with local authorities
- raise awareness of challenges faced by children in care
- support trauma-informed and attachment-aware practices
Visit each of the links below to find out more about our offer:
Events
The virtual school enjoys celebrating the achievements and successes of our looked after children and care leavers. As well as the virtual schools conference, during the Summer and Autumn, we hold the following ceremonies:
- Virtual school conference will be on 13 March 2025 at the Hat Factory, Luton
- Barney Wild Awards on 10 July 2025
- Bright Stars Awards on 16 October 2025
FAQs
We have answered the most common questions relating to Luton virtual school, if you have any further questions contact our team.
Looked after children are prioritised for places in the admissions criteria of education settings.
It's the role of the virtual school’s educational coordinator to liaise with the foster carer and social worker of the looked after children to ensure that:
- the young person is found a suitable education place as soon as possible
- days they are not in education are kept to minimum
Every school will have a designated teacher for looked after children and previously looked after children. They're the best people to talk to.
If they're unavailable, ask to speak to the child’s head of year or the headteacher.
If you have any concerns phone or email the headteacher or educational coordinator at Luton’s virtual school.
The school should be able to tell you who the designated teacher for looked after children is.
The virtual school also holds a list of designated teachers in all schools that our children and young people attend. Our number is 01582 548113.
The governor has responsibilities for holding the school to account on how it is supporting looked after and previously looked after children.
This includes their level of progress and how effectively the pupil premium is being spent.
The school should send you copies of all exclusion letters and explain why you child has been excluded. These letters should also be sent to the child’s social worker.
Schools should be aware that excluding a looked after child is the last possible option available to them and that all other options have been exhausted.
If the child has been excluded for a fixed period of time then, wherever possible, the school should try to ensure they are:
- educated in an alternative provision
- are provided with work by the school
The virtual school can support you with any queries about the exclusion of a looked after child, and can advise on the next steps.
If your child has been permanently excluded, the Luton virtual school might challenge this decision after:
- consulting with carers, social worker and the school
- taking advice from other professionals
It is the responsibility of the authority where the child lives to find them a new school or alternative provision.
There is evidence that regularly taking a child on holiday during the school term will have a negative impact on their education
If you're considering doing so please contact the virtual school first for advice.
You may be liable for a fine.