Minerva’s Virtual Academy

Minerva’s Virtual Academy is a unique online independent school for pupils
aged 11-18. We are a new vision for education in the 21st century, combining
the best of independent schooling with home-schooling, and delivering it
all online. We combine strong educational technology and engaging online
resources with one-to-one support, active group learning and exciting
multi-disciplinary projects. Our values-led blended model offers pupils
the flexibility to learn from the comfort of their home, anywhere in the
world, while ensuring they develop the skills required to live fulfilling lives
and succeed in the workplaces of the future: self-sufficiency, collaboration,
problem-solving, creative, and critical thinking, leadership, and mindfulness.

Our Pupils
Are from all backgrounds and all parts of the world. By the time they
graduate they have well developed technical skills as well as great
communication skills. They have inquisitive and adaptive minds, are
motivated to continue to learn and grow, and are excited by the world
around them and what their future holds.

These allow us to deliver a highly effective education where each pupil is
known, encouraged and can make life-long friends.

1. Our learning platform (Canvas) allows pupils to work at their own pace,
   on their own schedule, and fosters the development of self-study skills,
   self-sufficiency, and accountability. It teaches them the GCSE and A-level
   syllabus through a mixture of video, audio, text, and discussions, while
   regularly quizzing and challenging them, gamifying the learning process
   and giving them the power to learn, reflect, revise, test, master and move
   on to the next topic.
   
2. Every pupil is assigned a mentor to help bring out the best in them. They
   will meet weekly and can be contacted at any time. It is their job to
   oversee all aspects of the pupil’s academic progress, including their selfstudy schedule, pastoral wellbeing, and involvement in school life. They
   are highly trained and experienced.
3. Collaborative Learning through:

• Group subject lessons: Pupils attend live subject lessons for which they
  will have done preparatory work. The specialist teachers will lead these
  engaging and interactive sessions, helping pupils to deepen and apply
  their learning and giving them the chance to work collaboratively.
  • World Changer Projects: Led by tutors with special interests and experience,
  or external organisations such as the International Space School Education
  Trust (ISSET, affiliated with NASA), these projects will have an incredible
  lasting impact on our pupils’ futures, and be hugely enjoyable.

1. Community
   • Weekly Assemblies: An opportunity for everyone to meet, celebrate
   successes, share stories, and reflect on important values for life.
   • Wellbeing Programme: This helps pupils to know themselves, develop
   resilience and practise mindfulness, learn about, and discuss issues
   that affect them and equip them to make good life choices.
   • Clubs: For Year 7-11 pupils, they join one club – from art to film
   production, debating to entrepreneurship.
   • Optional In-person meetups: We organise a variety of educational,
   cultural and activity days out for the entire school community each
   term. These provide an opportunity to develop the friendships built
   through group learning and clubs, in person