Online Education Accreditation Scheme – How it can help your school
Alessandro Capozzi shares his experiences of undergoing the DfE’s accreditation process for online schools
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the emergence of online alternative provision has been a game-changer. It offers countless students pathways to renewed confidence and success that align with their needs and circumstances.
Across the UK, thousands of schools are using providers like Academy21 to support reintegration back into the physical classroom, or to help address various complications students may face. This may include persistent absence, behavioural difficulties or mental health challenges.
The DfE has recognised this in its new Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS). The OEAS is an important step in validating online alternative provision as a clear option for learning and student support.
Moreover, it gives schools that use accredited alternative provision providers, the security that the education their students receive is of the highest standards.
What is the Online Education Accreditation Scheme?
The DfE now recommends that “Commissioners of full-time online education for school-age pupils in England should only use accredited providers.”
As such, the DfE has designed the OEAS to ensure that online educational providers meet stringent quality standards. This is so that students can be offered safe, effective and engaging learning environments.
Ofsted acts as the quality assurance body for the Online Education Accreditation Scheme. It verifies the suitability of the provider and its leadership. This review includes a two-day visit from inspectors to judge providers on various fronts.
At Academy21, we found this process to be equally rigorous and engaging. As with Ofsted’s school visits, its Online Education Accreditation Scheme reports can be viewed at the Ofsted website. They highlight providers’ strengths and signpost any areas for further development.
We sought this accreditation for our clients. In achieving it, we have been able to underscore the work we do with their students to reconnect them with education, ready for reintegration or transition.
It was a positive process – one that we would encourage all providers to engage with.
What does the Online Education Accreditation Scheme evaluate?
The Online Education Accreditation Scheme process is a thorough one, covering a range of different areas. These include:
- curriculum and teaching quality
- safeguarding measures
- student welfare provisions
- school leadership
- the overall effectiveness of the education delivered
For Academy21, participating in the scheme and successfully achieving accredited status has enabled us to benchmark our services against the highest standards set by the DfE.
The process has also allowed us to focus on our capacity for continuous improvement, thus ensuring that we’re not just meeting current standards, but are also poised for future growth and development.
Why is the scheme valuable?
In short – confidence. Accreditation is more than just a ‘badge of honour’; it sends a clear message to students, their families and partner schools that providers like Academy21 have educational quality and integrity at their core. It validates our commitment to delivering a curriculum that’s both comprehensive, and adaptive to the needs of a diverse student body.
For our clients, accreditation guarantees that their investment in our services is a sound one, and that their students are in capable hands. We’ve often been asked whether we’re accredited, so this recent validation, paired with our students’ demonstrable outcomes, helps schools reach the decision to enrol with confidence.
When selecting an online AP provider, schools should consider the best fit for their students. Central to this will be the provider’s commitment to live engagement – something that’s crucial for fostering a supportive and interactive learning environment, founded on strong teacher-student relationships.
Additionally, a provider’s expertise in online pedagogy, support for students’ wider welfare, openness to feedback and capacity for growth are all important considerations – and duly signalled via the awarding of accredited status.
What’s next?
The introduction of the Online Education Accreditation Scheme scheme is a significant milestone for the sector, in that it sets a benchmark for quality and professionalism. For schools, accreditation offers a reliable framework for selecting between different online AP providers. For the sector, it’s raised the bar, further encouraging providers to improve and innovate.
As the educational landscape continues to change, accreditations like these will come to play an ever more crucial role in ensuring that students have access to safe, effective and engaging learning opportunities – regardless of their circumstances.
Alessandro Capozzi is Executive Headteacher at Academy21; for more information, visit academy21.co.uk
