Harrow Virtual School (HVS) ensures that all children and young people in care and care leavers have the opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Part of HVS’ remit is to ensure its young people have access to the best possible education and every chance to progress and realise their individual potential, to improve outcomes and life chances. To do this, they offer support with studies, future pathways and work experience opportunities for looked-after children.

A project was set up by which Sixth Form Harrow School pupils would tutor HVS young people of secondary-school age. The aim was not only to support the young people’s learning directly but also to raise their aspirations through use of Harrow School’s state-of-the-art resources. Young carers, nominated by Harrow Carers, also joined these sessions. As a result of support from John Lyon’s Charity, Bernadette Alexander (Enrichment Coordination Supplier for Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Harrow Virtual Schools) was able to bring Ealing VS into the programme and a large number of their children also attended. This demonstrated the growing impact of the partnership between John Lyon’s Charity, Harrow School and the Virtual Schools.

The young people spent two hours at Harrow School. For the first hour, they were given support in the subject of their choice. Those taking A levels were offered an hour’s one-to-one tuition from a Harrow teacher. In the second hour, a variety of activities was offered: Eton fives; rackets; astronomy in the Rayleigh Observatory; a drama workshop on the Ryan Theatre stage; judo; yoga; art; philosophy; history; business and enterprise; and talks by visiting lecturers.

One of the key aspects of this project was its sustainability; it took place every week and the young people automatically made their way there after school. When the coronavirus lockdown made this impossible, around 30 Harrow School teachers gave online tuition to the young people each week using Microsoft Teams. The move online meant that it was also possible to include pupils living outside the borough.

What is the Lumina Tutoring Programme?

The Lumina Tutoring Programme aims to provide online, subject-specific, one-to-one tutorial sessions for children and young people who are looked after (CLA), also known as children in care.

This programme, launched during the first national lockdown, is an effective and efficient way to meet a real need for CLA, a group already at significant educational disadvantage who are also likely to have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. The programme aims to invite great teachers and mentors from across the education sector, harnessing the expertise of individuals with diverse skills and backgrounds to support a group of young people facing significant disadvantage.

This programme is currently running with 50 teachers across four different schools - Harrow, Northwood College, Notting Hill and Ealing High School and Orley Farm School. The programme works in conjunction with Harrow, Ealing and Barnet Virtual Schools.

Why is this work so important?

In short, there is wide-ranging educational research to suggest the challenges facing Children in care in education are acute. By way of illustration:

 EPI researchers have measured the trend in the disadvantage gap for children in the care system (known as ‘looked after children’) and children who are receiving support from children’s services (known as ‘children in need’). These pupils are significantly educationally disadvantaged:

Looked after children (LAC) are nearly two and a half years (29.0 months) behind their peers by the time they finish their GCSEs. Progress in closing this gap is slow; it has reduced by only 1 month (3.3%) over the last six years.

Children in need (CIN) are 20 months behind their peers, while children in need with a Child Protection Plan (typically those who have experienced neglect, or physical, sexual or emotional abuse) are over two years (26 months) behind their peers.

EPI: Education in England: Annual Report 2020

How can you help?

We are seeking experienced teachers and tutors across the full school age range and across all subjects, though we are especially in need of specialists in English, Maths and Science. Tutors typically provide students with one 45 minute lesson per week, predominately in term time. In the next academic year, we are looking to expand this programme, working closely with several Virtual Schools in London, to provide academic support to an increasing number of children in care. If you would like to express an interest in supporting this programme, please get in touch.

For more information, please email us at: lumina@harrowschool.org.uk

Young Harrow Foundation is a membership organisation supporting the local voluntary sector to build capacity, increase fundraising opportunities, and to facilitate partnership working in the community. Their vision is for happier, healthier, safer children and young people with more opportunities to reach their full potential. We are delighted to partner with YHF to support young people in Harrow through joint programmes including fundraising, use of facilities and shared expertise.