An Isle of Wight special school has launched a new digital platform to allow it to reach pupils unable to attend lessons in-person.
Andrew Hatherley, headteacher of Lionheart School in Newport, has said Lionheart Anywhere is about ‘building a bridge back to education’ and not simply concerned with putting lessons online.
‘Building a bridge back to education’
The local authority maintained pupil referral unit says it provides safe, supportive, nurturing provision for every student.
In a social media post, Mr Hatherley said one of the biggest challenges faced in education is reaching the young people who are furthest away from it.
Tackling the barriers to attendance
He said,
“For some pupils, anxiety, Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) and other barriers have made attending school feel impossible.
“Over time, that can lead to disengagement, lost learning, damaged confidence and, most importantly, a feeling that they no longer belong in education.
“At Lionheart, we don’t accept that as the end of the story. So, we have built Lionheart Anywhere.
“A new digital platform that allows us to take high-quality teaching, qualified Lionheart teachers and – crucially – relationships to pupils who are currently unable to access school.”
The aim going forward
The headteacher said the aim is for Lionheart Anywhere to be the starting point for pupils disconnected from education, helping them rebuild confidence and, wherever possible, take the next step back into school and their community.
A former county councillor and chair of County Hall’s education committee, Paul Brading, previously described Mr Hatherley as an “inspirational” figure working with other Island headteachers.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
