The Sedbury Trust have funded a pilot project being run by Gloucestershire’s Virtual School (who support the educational attainment and progress of children and young people in care), aimed at applying best practice from other parts of the UK to improve school attendance and attainment of vulnerable young people.
Looked after young people in Y12 education, whose attendance rates often notably drop during this period of education, will be incentivised to aim for over 85% and 95% attendance. The Gloucestershire Virtual School will offer a reward of ‘love to shop’ vouchers for those who achieve this in term 1 of their current school year. This type of scheme has proven to have a positive impact for vulnerable young people in other counties in the UK. The Virtual School will use data provided by Gloucestershire Schools to monitor and assess the impact of this pilot approach during term 1, assessing whether there would be benefit in sustaining the approach or whether other interventions should be piloted.
