Minerva’s Virtual Academy become the first Online School to gain TASS accreditation

Minerva has been accredited by the Sport England-backed Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) initiative. TASS helps young sportspeople on the talent pathway have the opportunity to gain qualifications alongside their sporting pursuits, follow other interests, and further their personal development.

By formally recognising an institution’s commitment to supporting student-athletes, the TASS Dual Career Accreditation Scheme aims to allow athletes to reach their potential in education alongside achieving success in their sport.

As a Dual Career Accredited Site, Minerva Virtual will be an important extension of the network of universities that already partner with TASS, delivering core support services to more than 600 student-athletes each year.

These support services include physiotherapy, nutrition, lifestyle support, psychology strength and conditioning and a private medical scheme.

For student-athletes, the academic flexibility policies may mean they have the opportunity to access online notes or resources, are able to arrange catch up sessions with teaching staff, or even reschedule deadlines or exam dates in exceptional circumstances.

Fabian Spiess, Elite Athlete Education Officers at Minerva, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded this accreditation, which builds on the work we are already doing through our High Performance and Wellbeing Club.

“We have students from nine different countries representing 10 different sports in our elite athletes group and we believe it is inherent on us to look after their welfare in every aspect of their school lives.”

TASS National Director, Guy Taylor, said: “We’re delighted to be awarding TASS Dual Career Accreditation to colleges and universities across England.

“Dual career support is at the forefront of what TASS does and that’s why the Accreditation Scheme is so important for us in recognising those institutions who place precedence on their athletes’ education too.

“We hope that the academic flexibility policies put into place for the Accreditation will begin to develop an effective and lasting dual career structure within each institution.

You can find out more about the TASS Accreditation Scheme here.

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