Coventry Virtual School - overview - Print version

What we do

Our vision

To ensure that every young person supported by Coventry Virtual School achieves in education, feels valued, and is well prepared for adulthood—with the right people around them at every step.

We champion:

• High aspirations for all children and young people in care
• Inclusive, trauma-informed practice in schools and settings
• Personalised support, tailored to individual needs
• Joined-up working across education, social care, health and families

What we do

We provide direct support, professional advice and strategic oversight in the following areas:

• Personal Education Plans (PEPs): We coordinate, and quality assure PEP meetings and documents via our online ePEP platform.
• Pupil Premium Plus: We advise on the effective use of funding, allocate funding to education settings and monitor its impact on attainment and progress.
• Educational Pathways: We advise on securing and maintaining the most suitable school, college or training placement for each young person’s needs.
• Tracking Progress: We collect and analyse engagement, attainment and progress data to identify patterns, provide support and challenge where needed.
• 1:1 Advice & Support: We offer targeted support for pupils who are at risk of disengagement, working closely with professionals to plan and deliver bespoke interventions, including mentoring.
• Partnership Working: We work closely with other local authority service areas—such as the SEND team, Attendance team, Coventry Alternative Provision (CAP), and Youth Justice—to reduce barriers to education and promote coordinated, child-centred support.
• Training & Awareness: We deliver high-quality training to Designated Teachers, social workers, foster carers, school governors and other professionals—covering areas such as statutory responsibilities, attachment and trauma, and inclusive practice.
• Enrichment Opportunities: We deliver a wide range of out-of-school learning, leisure, and cultural opportunities to help build confidence and inspire future goals. This includes residential trips for Children in Care.
• Post-16 & Care Leaver Support: We ensure that young people aged 16–25 are supported to remain in education, employment or training (EET), and receive tailored advice and planning support for transitions into adulthood.

Looking ahead

We believe every young person deserves to feel seen, safe, and successful in their education. Whether it's helping to identify the right school placement, ensuring every PEP is meaningful, or offering that extra bit of encouragement to take the next step—we're here to help make it happen.

Who we support

We work with children and young people across Coventry who fall into the following groups:

• Children in Care (CiC)
• Previously Looked-After Children (PLAC) – including those adopted or under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
• Children in Kinship Care – including those living with relatives or connected carers through formal or informal arrangements
• Children with a Social Worker (CWSW)

Meet the team

The Coventry Virtual School is made up of a small, dedicated team of professionals who are committed to helping every child and young person we support achieve their educational potential.

Our service is led by experienced education professionals who understand, first-hand, the challenges faced by schools and the complex needs of vulnerable learners. We know what it takes to support children who face additional barriers—and we bring that knowledge into everything we do.

The Head and leadership team have strong backgrounds as qualified teachers, and their experience spans across; Primary and secondary education, School leadership in both mainstream and specialist SEMH settings, SENCO and Designated Teacher roles, Local Authority SEND leadership.

This wealth of frontline experience shapes the way we work—with empathy, high expectations, and a deep understanding of the education system. Whether advising on individual plans, developing training, or influencing wider strategy, our team is focused on improving outcomes and promoting stability for Coventry’s most vulnerable children and young people.

Leadership Team

• Head teacher – Mikaela Carrasco - mikaela.carrasco@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:mikaela.carrasco@coventry.gov.uk]
• Lead Advisory Teacher – Jo Green - jo.green@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:jo.green@coventry.gov.uk]
• Lead Advisory Teacher – Rachel Wedgbury - rachel.wedgbury@coventry.gov.uk [http://rachel.wedgbury@coventry.gov.uk]
• Lead Advisory Teacher – Elena Allen - elena.allen@coventry.gov.uk [http://elena.allen@coventry.gov.uk]
• Lead Advisory Teacher – Georgiana Blake-Hall - georgiana.blakehall@coventry.gov.uk [http://georgiana.blakehall@coventry.gov.uk]

Education Support Team

• Education Advisor Post 16 – Mandy Gee - mandy.gee@coventry.gov.uk [http://mandy.gee@coventry.gov.uk]
• Education Advisor Primary – Lynsey Smith - lynsey.smith@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:lynsey.smith@coventry.gov.uk]
• Education Advisor Secondary– Jack Middleton - jack.middleton@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:jack.middleton@coventry.gov.uk]
• Education Strategy Officer – Deborah Pearce - deborah.pearce@coventry.gov.uk [http://deborah.pearce@coventry.gov.uk]
• Enrichment and Engagement Coordinator – Katy Dolden - katy.dolden@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:katy.dolden@coventry.gov.uk]

Admin and Data Team

• Senior Administrator – Kevin May - kevin.may@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:kevin.may@coventry.gov.uk]
• Assessment and Data Lead – Dawn Mills - dawn.mills@coventry.gov.uk [mailto:dawn.mills@coventry.gov.uk]