About

The Four Pillars

Designed by Lawrence and Hugh to support the next generation of schooling, The Four Pillars give crucial daily structure to our students education.

By getting the basics right, we are able to innovate more easily and build a virtual school community like no other.

What are The Four Pillars?

The Four Pillars of Virtual Learning Platform, Live Lessons, Mentoring, and Community allow us to deliver a highly effective education whilst equipping our pupils with the skills needed to thrive in the modern world; all in an environment where each pupil is known, encouraged and can make life-long friends.

What is the Virtual Learning Platform (VLP)?

Our Virtual Learning Platform (VLP), also known as Canvas, is essentially a comprehensive, interactive digital textbook. It houses all the learning materials for every course we offer at MVA, structured in a modular format.

Students can log in and learn at their own pace and on their own schedule, thereby fostering self-study skills, self-sufficiency, and accountability.

The VLP offers a multi-media teaching approach through video, audio, text, and discussions. It engages students with quizzes and challenges, turning the learning process into a game. The platform empowers students to learn, reflect, revise, test, master a topic, and then advance to the next, further enhancing their learning journey.

How many Live Lessons per day?

Students usually have 3 or 4 Live Lessons per day, on fixed timetable, depending on your subject choices and year group. Live Lessons at MVA are run according to the principles of Flipped Learning, where students do preparatory work on our VLP before their lesson begins. Our brilliant subject teachers will then lead engaging and interactive lessons, helping pupils to deepen and apply their learning and giving them the chance to work collaboratively.

How does Mentoring work?

Every MVA student is assigned a mentor to help bring out the best in them. A true ally on the pupil’s educational journey, the mentor will meet with each pupil regularly and can be contacted at any time via email or chat. It is the mentor’s job to oversee all aspects of the pupil’s academic progress, including their self study schedule, pastoral wellbeing and involvement in school life. They are highly trained and experienced with 1000s of hours of 1-2-1 mentorship under their belt.

How does the Community get together?

Weekly assemblies - An opportunity for the whole school to come together, celebrate successes, share stories and reflect on important values for life.
Wellbeing programme - Weekly sessions for Year 9-11 pupils help them to know themselves, develop resilience and practise mindfulness, learn about and discuss issues that affect them, and equip them to make good life choices.
Clubs -Every pupil in Year 9-11 joins at least one club and may join more - from art to film production, debating to E-gaming, there is something for everyone.
Guest speakers - Pupils and parents alike are invited to attend termly virtual talks by inspirational speakers.

Are School Trips compulsory?

We organise a variety of educational, cultural and activity days out for the entire school community each term. These provide  an opportunity to develop the friendships built through group learning and clubs, in person! So far we have visited London and York and there are lots more exciting trips in the planning stages. All trips are optional.

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