Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, how many virtual school heads have been appointed to provide for previously looked after children in England pursuant to the Children and Social Work Act 2017; in which locations any such appointments were made; how the impact of these appointments are assessed; and what assessment they have made of the impact these appointments have had on the educational achievement of children in England.

The department does not hold information on the number of Virtual School Heads (VSHs) in post. However, all local authorities in England with responsibilities for children’s social care must appoint at least one person to this post.

The appointment of a VSH for previously looked-after children is a statutory requirement under Section 23ZZA of the Children Act 1989 (inserted by the Children and Families Act 2017).

The Children in Need Review recognised the impact that VSHs have in raising aspiration and promoting educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children, recommending that their role is further extended to cover all children with a social worker. The Timpson Review of School Exclusion also found ‘good evidence that VSHs are effective in supporting schools’.