We’re proud to announce that Minerva Virtual Academy has joined COBIS (Council of British International Schools) as an accredited member, following our recent Department for Education accreditation under the OEAS (Online Education Accreditation Scheme). This recognition reflects the high standards of education, student support, and community we provide to learners across the globe.
Minerva Virtual Academy is now the fastest-growing secondary school in the UK, with over 1,000 students aged 11–18 studying the British curriculum from wherever they are in the world. Around 25% of our students are based internationally, spanning more than 50 countries.
We support a wide range of learners who need a more flexible approach to education — including students facing EBSA or other challenges, young athletes, high achievers, and families seeking British qualifications while living overseas.
In addition to serving individual students, we also collaborate with international schools through our MVA Hybrid model. This flexible partnership enables schools to offer British curriculum subjects and live online teaching alongside their existing local provision, giving students access to world-class education without leaving their current school community.
At the heart of Minerva’s model is a unique combination of flipped learning, one-to-one mentoring, and a thriving community. Students blend live lessons with guided self-study via our Virtual Learning Platform, while receiving personalised support from a dedicated mentor who helps them navigate both academic progress and wellbeing.
As Ofsted recently highlighted, “wellbeing sits at the heart of everything” at Minerva.
To better support families in the Middle East and Asia, we are also launching a dedicated Gulf Standard Time (GST) timetable in September — a significant step in meeting the needs of our growing international community.
Suzanne Lindley, Principal of Minerva Virtual Academy, commented:
“We’re thrilled to join the COBIS community at such an exciting time for online education. At Minerva, we’re committed to delivering a world-class, flexible education that helps every student thrive, wherever they are. Becoming a COBIS member allows us to connect with like-minded schools around the world and continue raising the bar for what online learning can achieve.”
Becoming a COBIS member marks another important milestone in Minerva’s journey. As we continue to grow and innovate, we look forward to working alongside other outstanding schools to shape the future of global education.