Creative Arts, Sports and Culture

Arts, Sports and Culture empower children and can have remarkable benefits for our care experienced children. It is fundamental to their development and can improve a child’s potential. Taking part in such activities promotes and encourages creativity, innovation, resilience, and empathy as well as enriching their life experiences, making them healthier and happier.

Staffordshire Virtual school are dedicated to finding opportunities within Arts, Sports and Culture for our children to access. These are usually offered termly and will be advertised through e-pep and our Twitter page. Please share these with your care experienced children and encourage participation wherever possible.

Arts Award

An amazing way to encourage creativity, instil confidence, make new friends , improve attendance and engagement whilst building self-esteem for our children as we celebrate their strengths and achievements. Arts Award is an accredited qualification and we have 2 colleagues within the Virtual school, who can assess the work.

The Levels start at a Discover Award- for anyone aged 6yrs + who is learning and developing a new skill. To the Silver Arts Award for those 16yrs +, where evidence is collated in a portfolio to show their improved skills in an art form, sharing what they have learnt to others and going on to plan and deliver an event.

We have over 50 children who have successfully achieved their Discover Award and more who are working towards the next level – Explore. Arts come along in many different forms- so please do not feel that if drawing is not your passion it’s not for you! Music, digital media, photography, fashion, drama and many more elements can be covered in completing an Arts Award.

Virtual School Wider events give opportunities to start an Arts Award journey- so please check out our Calander of events to see what you would like to come and participate in ( free of charge ). We have Bollywood Dance, DJ workshops, Acting skills, Graffiti sessions, creative writing and much more on offer.

For more information see the links below or contact Mary Gardner, Becky Woolridge. Contact us.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Staffordshire Virtual School have recently started running the Duke of Edinburgh award (DofE) as an extra opportunity for our children in care. We introduced this award mid 2022 and have successfully supported five young people to complete their Broze award. We hope to grow this opportunity and encourage many more of our learners to take on this challenge for years to come.

DofE is a great opportunity for young people to learn life skills, develop friendships, teamwork and push themselves to complete difficult tasks developing their resilience. As a nationally recognised qualification it will also enhance the learners CV, college, and university applications.

For more information see the links below or contact Mary Gardner, Becky Woolridge. Contact us.

Artslink

The West Midlands Virtual Schools are delighted to bring you Artslink.

This is an online programme, which provides at-home arts and cultural activities specially selected and commissioned for care experienced children and young people. We know that the arts can present a hugely important opportunity for connection and creativity for care experienced CYP and their key adults during this isolating time, as well as helping to continue their learning.

Have a look and give it a go! – you will find creative challenges, artist demonstrations, career pathways and a gallery to showcase some of the work produced.Arts awards from Explore up to Gold level award can also be completed and there is support offered by 2 of the Virtual school mentors who are trained to facilitate this. Please get in touch with us to find out more…

As a Virtual School, we offer central opportunities for our children to get involved in sporting activities and events as well as encouraging individuals to follow their own chosen interests. Current events are on our Events calendar. Volunteer opportunities in chosen sports can be explored for young people for them to train, develop and progress into a career pathway. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or guidance around this.