Minerva’s Virtual Academy

It is the perfect school for modern times - combining smart technology and engaging online resources with one-to-one support, active group learning and exciting multi-disciplinary projects.

We offer pupils the flexibility to learn from the comfort of their home, anywhere in the world, while ensuring they develop the social skills required to live fulfilling lives and succeed in the workplaces of the future.

The skills we champion are self-sufficiency, collaboration, problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, leadership, and mindfulness.

We operate term dates broadly in line with those in the independent school sector.

Our curriculum for Years 7 and 8 takes advantage of Key Stage 3's flexibility. Alongside the foundational curriculum, students encounter a diverse array of topics. The key stage 3 curriculum combines the Inner core subjects of English, Maths, and Science (Cambridge Lower Secondary) and the outer core is made up of History, French, German, Spanish, Global Perspectives, Digital Literacy, PSHE, Classical Civilisation, Computing, Music and Art & Design.

Pupils commonly study between 5 and 9 subjects in Years 9-11 and 3 - 4 subjects in Years 12-13. These include a combination of the core subjects: Maths, English Language, English Literature, Biology, Chemistry and Physics - and electives: Geography, History, Business Studies, Psychology, Global Citizenship, Computer Science, French, Spanish, Art and Music. All of our courses (with the exception of Psychology, Art and Music) are IGCSEs awarded by either Cambridge or Pearson Edexcel.

How Pupils Learn

Pupils learn through a combination of modules on our online learning platform, small group live lessons that take place for one hour per fortnight per subject, and the support of a personal mentor (again one hour of dedicated time per fortnight, after which the mentor writes an update report for parents). In addition to their subjects, all pupils take part in our cross-curricular World Changers sessions for one hour per week, Well-being for half an hour per week, Assembly for 30-40 minutes per week, and a Club for one hour per week. Pupils studying 9 subjects can therefore expect to have 8-9 hours per week of live contact time, and they structure and complete their self-guided work via the online platform around these sessions.