National Creative Learning Awards

The awards are organised by The Creative Learning Guild a charity that supports the grassroots creative learning movement across the UK.

The Virtual School supports young people from across Cornwall who are currently in care or who have just left care, and it uses a range of learning techniques to help improve their education.

Portfolio Holder and Cabinet Member for Children and Well Being, Sally Hawken, said: “This is fantastic recognition for all the hard work that the Virtual School team, put in on a regular basis. When you are working with vulnerable young people, it is important to tailor the learning to them to maximise their opportunities and that’s what the Virtual School does brilliantly.

“Children in care have all been through trauma, which can impact on their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviour, in a classroom setting, this might present as outbursts or other learning difficulties.

“These creative projects have supported young people in various ways and the outcomes show the projects are working. Schools have noticed reduced classroom disruption, improved attendance and better educational attainment. Not only that but carers have also reported improved behaviour at times and most importantly the children themselves say they feel better understood and they get more out of school.”

The national Creative Learning Awards celebrate the inspirational innovators, educators and practitioners who live and breathe creative learning.

Judge and Managing Editor of Education Today, Jonathan Swift, said: “This is a very impressive, well-run project which has clearly made a big difference to the lives of the children it has engaged with.”