A member of staff at Bede’s continues his long-standing commitment and support of Looked After Children (LAC) by acting as the Designated Teacher for LACs. Bede’s works closely with the RNCSF and our Designated Teacher is a member of their Expert Advisory Group, providing advice about boarding, in order to help develop their national programme. During the past year, there were five LAC from East Sussex who were educated in the Trust, all of whom were weekly boarding at Bede’s. The School also supported one child from Eastside Young Leaders’ Academy (EYLA), through the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation (RNCSF). The School provides 50% bursaries for the LAC and also covers many of the extra costs, with the Local Authority and the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation providing the remainder of fees. Bede’s also provides a 70% bursary for the child from EYLA, with the RNCSF covering the rest including extras.
Our Designated Teacher for LAC has also continued to fulfil his role as a Governor of the East Sussex Virtual School for Children in Care, with the school hosting two of the Governor meetings this year. In this role, he also works closely with the Head of the Virtual School to identify children in care who would benefit from a place at Bede’s and to explore ways in which Bede’s can support and provide opportunities to other children in care in East Sussex.
The Head of LAC has also developed a partnership with Magdalen College School in Oxford offering interview and mock Oxbridge Maths support for a variety of students in state schools.
As part of its work to support the Foster Placement Support Service, which provides respite for foster carers, Bede’s hosts children several times a year at weekends and during holidays. Every term we hosted groups of up to 15 children on a Saturday morning, providing activities in both the Art and Animal Management Unit and providing lunch. On two occasions we hosted two groups of LAC for holiday sports activities, led by staff in the Sports Centre, during which they tried out a number of different sports.
We hosted two Children in Care Awards ceremonies this year. In October, we hosted over 50 children in care along with their carers/ social workers to celebrate their educational success. Holroyd Howe provided the catering and the awards ceremony took place in the Recital room. This event was for children in Year 7 and above. In March, we held an event to celebrate the educational success of such children in Year 6 and below. 20 children along with their carers, were invited in for a session in art and animal management, followed by lunch and the award ceremony in the Old Dining Room.
Last year Bede’s was recognised for its work with LAC over the course of the last decade, by the Boarding Schools Association, winning the Working with Vulnerable Children Award. The award submission detailed research carried out by Bede’s Head of Boarding into the experience of and outcomes for LAC who have attended Bede’s. The evidence provided explained that to date 22 LAC have attended Bede’s and that, whilst some are still currently studying at Bede’s, 14 children have left with the equivalent of 3 A levels or more and a university offer, the vast majority having achieved considerable academic success at university.
We continue to have links with Sibs, a national charity supporting children who have disabled siblings or parents. As a result, we work with Downs Junior School in Brighton, which is the only primary school in the South East to have a Sibs group. Across two Saturdays, groups of up to 12 children came in for sessions in Art and Animal Management followed by lunch. Transport to and from Brighton was provided on both occasions.
