Sophia Technology

Sophia High School's practices and policies align with Wolverhampton Charter principles, demonstrating a commitment to workforce development, health and wellbeing, community engagement, business growth, and environmental sustainability. As the first DfE accredited online school, and BCorp organisation with minimal carbon footprint, Sophia High School's online model provides unique opportunities to work in line with the Wolverhampton Charter. We follow government regulations with regards to seeking 95% attendance from our students. Central to improving student attendance are the relationships we build with students, their families and support organisations in a multi-agency approach. Our track record has seen improvement in students commissioned to Sophia High School with persistent and significant attendance figures, improving dramatically due to the development of confidence, engagement and enjoyment of learning in students when they join our programme. We report to parents daily with attendance and offer weekly attendance updates to local authorities or schools and meet with families and students on a regular basis to provide support. Our AP Task Force provides targeted support for all identified areas, alongside a partnership with online counselling services to address student needs (SEMH, SALT, OT, Counselling). Daily wellness rituals supporting physical and mental health, mental health speaker series, and global citizenship are an integrated part of the curriculum. Trusted relationships are built and 1-1 engagement sessions, leading to small-groups, enable students to express themselves and develop confidence through digital and immersive environments. We use pioneering immersive digital environments tailored to how today's students learn best. This allows students with a range of needs to access education in a way that traditional classrooms do not allow. Free from physical constraints and social pressures, students flourish using avatars and gamified learning opportunities to work collaboratively within digital spaces. Digital Lessons provide interactive experiences boosting engagement and comprehension and mirror the live environments that they will navigate in the outside world, helping rebuild positive relationships with the learning process, and confidence as a learner to support a managed transition back to mainstream school, higher education or employment.

Working online from home, no uniform is needed, there is no travel, avoiding stress leaving the house and travelling to school, and minimising opportunities to engage in activities which may lead to exploitation. The daily timetable includes breaks for movement and times for socialising online. All teachers certified in ACEs, CCE, CSE, Trauma Informed Practice and Youth Suicide Awareness/Prevention.Through personalised learning plans co-created with students, parents, schools and agencies, we ensure education is tailored to each child's unique needs and interests. Our immersive online platform, including Virtual Reality integrated lessons, facilitates interactive, multisensory learning to continually stimulate student imagination and engagement. Through ongoing achievements in our digital classroom, children rebuild confidence in themselves as learners and by making education flexible and accessible, we eliminate obstacles to engagement. We understand that students with positive views on education make progress, and the importance we place on the student voice is a key driver to improvements in student learning.We offer a wide variety of qualification pathways including Academic tracks of GCSE, A Level, and Functional Skills alongside wider opportunities for qualifications in Esports. Our Holistic Horizons programme develops a detailed careers programme designed to explore the wide variety of interests young people have through the availability of micro-courses, additional qualifications as well as opportunities such as work experiences and professional mentors aligned to the voice of young people. We run an annual entrepreneurship programme each summer term where young people have the opportunity to develop a business and pitch their ideas to the community which is an important skill builder for young people.

Termly collaborative reviews with county SEN officers and multi-agency teams allow us to celebrate wins and identify any additional adaptations needed to help pupils gain independence in learning. Our ultimate aims are increased school attendance and attainment rates. By supporting young people facing barriers, their families and support networks, we empower development both educationally and vocationally.