• Academy21 celebrates Online Accreditation (OEAS) being the only Accredited Online AP in the UK. 

• This is particularly significant as Online Alternative Provision is increasingly used as a solution for students nationally. 

• The OEAS sets the standard for online schools, including quality of teaching and safeguarding processes.  

• Academy21's Ofsted report is available to read here. 

London, 14th March 2024. Academy21 is the UK’s leading provider of online alternative provision (AP) and has today become the first online AP to be accredited under the UK Department for Education’s new Online Education Accreditation Scheme (OEAS). The scheme recognises the provider’s high standards of education and safeguarding arrangements for students. 

The Department for Education (DfE) introduced the accreditation scheme in response to the rapid growth of the online education services sector, as well as the growth of alternative provision, which marked an increase in the last academic yeari. The scheme aims to reassure children, caregivers, schools, and local authorities of the quality of education and safeguarding arrangements offered by accredited providers.   

Academy21 offers best-in-class online education providing students with the unique experience of live instruction and adaptive teaching, which helps to develop relationships and build students’ confidence. The school’s Ofsted reports can now be accessed via the ‘Get Information about Schools’ (GIAS) website as an accredited provider.  

The DfE report highlights the “culture of high ambition and high expectations” evident at Academy21 and lauds the school’s “driven focus to provide the best online provision possible for the pupils they serve”. In particular, the report notes that the positive learning environment and approaches taken by the school enable students to gain confidence, progress academically and, in many cases, successfully reintegrate back into their school or other educational placements.   

Alessandro Capozzi, Executive Head at Academy21, said: “We’re really proud to be the first Online AP in the UK to receive this recognition from the Department for Education (DfE). We’re committed to providing students with an exceptional education that caters to each individual child's needs, and we welcome a scheme that recognises the vital role of quality online education in empowering students with additional needs or challenging circumstances.” 

The report notes: “A significant strength of Academy21 is the strategic direction, focus and oversight the executive teams at Inspired Education. There are very high levels of accountability - alongside similar levels of support. Central teams including, for example, experts in safeguarding, finance, technological development and curriculum provide additional expertise to support ongoing improvements. 

“Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge alongside a secure understanding of the technical knowledge and skills needed to operate within an online environment. The positive learning environment they create promote pupils’ confidence and this has an important impact on the progress they go on to make.” 

As approved providers on many local authority frameworks, Academy21 works in partnership with over 900 schools and over 140 Local Authorities to provide quality, innovative and inclusive fully live online education in a supportive environment that enables students with additional needs or challenging circumstances to reconnect with learning and move successfully onto the next phase in their education.   

For more information on the scheme, visit here.