Welcome to Awena, Cornwall's Virtual School for Children with a Social Worker
The Head of Awena is also the Designated Safeguarding and Child Exploitation Lead for Children in Care. The aim of Awena is to promote the education of children with a Social Worker to ensure all achieve the best they can in educational outcomes. Awena does this with creativity and a nurturing approach for all.
Who we are
We are Cornwall Council’s Virtual School for all children with a Social Worker. We also work with previously looked after children (PLAC). The school exists to improve the education of these vulnerable children. It is a cross-phase school and our learners range from 2 to 25 years.
Our learners attend real schools and settings. The Headteacher or Designated Teacher (DT) of each school provides us with information. We track each young person's education. Our team provide support to help learners achieve.
Why we need a Virtual School
Many children and young people with a social worker, in care, or having left care, enjoy and do well at school. But, as a group, they may not perform as well in their education as their peers.
Each Local Authority (LA) in England has to appoint someone to promote achievement of children with a Social Worker. In Cornwall, we have a Virtual School Headteacher. Their job is to review how children and young people are doing. Systems are also put in place to support and challenge schools and other agencies to help them do better.
The Virtual School works across Cornwall Council and involves many different departments. We also work with external organisations. We aim to deliver the best possible education for our children and young people.
Our Learners
Our school includes six groups of children and young people:
- Cornish children in care and care leavers educated in Cornwall
- Cornish children in care and care leavers educated in another Local Authority (LA)
- Children in care/care leavers looked after by another LA but educated in Cornwall
- Previously looked after children
- Adopted previously looked after children, or those under special guardianship orders (SGO) or child arrangement orders (CAO)
- Cornish children with a social worker, including Children In Need (CIN) and children with a Child Protection Plan (CP)
Your Voice
We listen to the voice of our young people. We do this by including them on our Governing Body. We ask them to be part of interview panels and monitor what we deliver as a school. We listen to what they tell us in their Council forums.
If you would like to be involved with the Virtual School please get in touch with us using the email address at the bottom of this page.