Sandwell Virtual School Newsletter

Musical Theatre Workshop: A Fun-Filled Day! 🎭

We were thrilled to welcome participants from Sandwell to our Musical Theatre Workshop, led by Jake Sharp, who starred as Dewey Finn in the West End and UK tour of School of Rock.

The children learned to sing, dance, and act, culminating in a lively performance of ‘Stick it to the Man’ for parents, carers, and staff. Each child brought their own flair, with air guitar, gymnastics, and attitude on full display!

Foster carers were amazed at how much confidence their children gained. One usually shy child ended the session dancing confidently alongside Jake.

A big thank you to everyone involved! We can’t wait for the next workshop! 

🎭

Year 6 Transition Residential: Fun, Fear, and New Skills at Frank Chapman!🌲

At the end of July, a group of adventurous Year 6 students set off on our Transition Residential trip to Frank Chapman. For four days, they tackled outdoor activities that built teamwork and social skills. There were plenty of highlights—three students learned to ride a bike, and some overcame their fear of heights on the climbing wall!

Connexions also stopped by, helping students explore valuable skills they’ll use in the future. Overall, it was a trip full of fun, growth, and memories to last a lifetime!

🧗‍♀️🚴‍♂️

🌟 Celebrating Success! Sandwell Virtual School Children in Care Awards 🌟

On Friday evening, the Sandwell Virtual School Children in Care celebration event took place, with Shokat Lal the Chief Executive of Sandwell Council presenting a series of awards. These honours were given to recognise the incredible achievements of the children in our care, with inspirational stories shared throughout the night.

A huge congratulations to the Virtual School Learning Team for putting together such a meaningful and memorable event, showcasing the hard work of both the children and their dedicated carers. 👏✨

🌟 Amazing Progress in Our Children's Education! 🌟

We’re excited to share some great news about the progress of the children in our care this year!

📚 Reception Update
While our Reception children slightly trailed behind the Department for Education (DfE) West Midlands cohort, we’re proud to report that they still kept pace with our statistical neighbours and showed solid results in Physical Development, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. With continued support, we're confident they’ll keep making strides in the coming year.

🎉 Key Stage 2 (KS2) Milestone
The standout achievement is in Key Stage 2, where outcomes have reached the highest levels in five years! Attainment rose by an impressive 18.4%, and we’re 24.6% ahead of the national average for children looked after (CLA). Even more encouraging, we’re just 6.2% behind all children in Sandwell—closing that gap faster than ever.

These results show the significant progress our children are making, and we’re excited to see what the future holds!

All bookings for the courses below will be sent out via email

📰 Sandwell Virtual School Delights with Story Explorers Books! 📚✨

Reception children at Sandwell Virtual School just received their first Letterbox Club books, sparking excitement! 🌟 Through Story Explorers by BookTrust, this playful program encourages shared reading, bringing joy to children and parents alike. ❤️📖 Sandwell Virtual School is thrilled to help young readers begin their reading adventures! 🌈

📰 Sandwell Family Hubs: Support for Families Across All Ages! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦✨

Sandwell's Family Hubs are here to provide the right help, in the right place, at the right time. Offering a wide range of services and support for families with children aged 0–19 (or up to 25 for those with SEND), this includes Play, Talk, Read sessions.

To book any available sessions, simply scan the QR code below! 📲

Children and Education Directorate

Sandwell Virtual School
The Hollies STEPS Centre
Coopers Lane
Smethwick
West Midlands
B67 7DW

LEARN . ACHIEVE . TOGETHER