UK's first 'virtual school' gets high praise :: PublicTechnology.net :: e-Government & public sector IT news + job vacancies:

Liverpool City Council's Virtual School was chosen as the overall winner in the city's first Neighborhood Renewal Awards which celebrated the achievements of projects involved in improving services and regenerating neighbourhoods in some of the most deprived areas of Liverpool.

The e-learning driven virtual school aims to ensure that all the city's children in care have the same educational opportunities as other youngsters. Its 800 pupils attend local schools but are registered in the virtual school where specialist staff help them achieve academic goals.

Every pupil has access to their own compute. E-learning packages, have been developed to help both youngsters and foster carers with study support materials and on line service information and advice.

The virtual school also won the category for improving educational attainment

Councillor Mike Storey, City Council leader said: "All the projects nominated could be considered as winners because they are all improving the quality of life in our most deprived neighbourhoods. It was a really difficult choice to select one which has made an outstanding contribution to neighbourhood renewal.

"However, since it was established two years ago the virtual school has achieved excellent results. We have to make sure our children in care improve their school results and have the same educational chances as their peers."

Projects funded through Liverpool's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) were all eligible for an award. NRF is a grant to improve the quality of life in the most deprived neighbourhoods, in relation to education, employment, crime, health and housing and other issues. Between 2001 and 2006, Liverpool will have received £105m from NRF and it has been announced that they will continue to receive NRF funding until 2008. There are over 100 projects in the city's current year's programme.

The Liverpool Awards 2005 were jointly hosted by the Liverpool First Board, the Liverpool Partnership Group and Liverpool City Council. The NRF Programme is managed by the UK Programmes Team at Liverpool City Council on behalf of the Liverpool Partnership Group.

Related links to this article:
Liverpool City Council

e-Government National Awards 2004: Winners were announced on 19th January
The e-Government National Awards (www.e-GovernmentAwards.org.uk) recognise and praise the best strategies, achievements, teams and individuals in UK e-Government. The guest of honour at the 2004 Awards dinner was Ian Watmore, head of e-Government at the Cabinet Office e-Government Unit.

Full details on winners can be found at this link.

A gallery of photos of Awards winners and the dinner can be found at this link.

Organiser for the awards was PublicTechnology.net, the leading online news provider for those in UK e-Government and public sector IT, with 29,300+ readers per month. The Awards were supported by the Cabinet Office e-Government Unit and Socitm. Platinum sponsor was Intel and also a sponsor was Jobsgopublic.