The Headteacher of the Virtual School is a new post set up by the government to promote the education of all children looked after by Dudley MBC. It places new responsibilities on the Local Authority to improve the standards reached by its looked after children. It aims to do this by supporting and challenging all agencies to rethink their current policies and strategies in relation to this very vulnerable group.
The position should be held by a senior officer in the Local Authority who has the ability to be involved across directorates to address the problems of groups working in isolation and effectively bring about necessary changes.
The Virtual Headteacher also has a responsibility to ensure that the education of looked after children in the care of other authorities, but living or at school in Dudley, are monitored and evaluated.
In Dudley the Headteacher is involved in two major national projects:
Both are still comparatively new but early indications are very favourable.
