Minerva's Virtual Academy is an affordable, accessible online independent school for 11-18 year old's that delivers world-class education with a true sense of community.
There is an alternative to traditional school, and we are committed to making a difference.
Providing a world-class alternative to bricks and mortar education
A highly-personal and enriching education for every child
Our expertise in home education and personalised learning
Empowering students through Active Learning
Getting the basics right, our foundation for success
At Minerva's Virtual Academy, our mission is to provide a world-class alternative to bricks and mortar schools, one teacher, one student, and one day at a time.
By redefining the way alternative education is both delivered and perceived, we strive to create a profound and lasting impact on the lives of our students and the world around us.
Our approach is centred on delivering a personalised, world-class, and enriching education to each child, making it as affordable as possible, whilst ensuring our forward-thinking curriculum is preparing children for life in the 21st Century.
We provide education to students who are being left behind by the traditional system, but we are increasingly helping families who wish to benefit from amore flexible way of life, and to join a school that's putting some of the smartest ideas in education into practice.
Live Lesson size: c. 20 students
Empowering students with a global perspective to understand diverse cultures and engage with worldwide issues.
Fostering an inclusive, empathetic environment that supports and values every student's unique journey.
Enhancing the traditional British Curriculum with innovations like World Changers and lessons on the history, implications, and future of AI.
Minerva's Virtual Academy was founded in November 2020 by Minerva Tutors, the UK's leading homeschooling and private tuition agency.
Since its inception in 2014, Minerva Tutors has won many awards and continues to offer personalised 1-to-1 homeschooling to families in the UK and around the world.
Both organisations are run by Hugh Viney, ex-Classics scholar and runner up Duke of York Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the National Business awards in 2016.
An ex-tutor himself, Hugh's founding vision for Minerva was to help professionalise the tutoring industry and to offer parents an alternative approach - by working with tutors who had the ability to raise a child's confidence as well as offer rigorous academic tuition, students would be better off in the long run, not just on exam day.
MVA is the culmination of Minerva's desire to help as many children as possible benefit from the advantages of personalised learning, and is one step closer to the statement Hugh wrote up on the whiteboard in the earliest days of the company: 'Every Child Succeeds'.
Flipped Learning is a transformative teaching approach that encourages students to take ownership of their education.
MVA students engage in interactive self-study on our Virtual Learning Platform before attending Live Lessons with their teacher. This shifts the dynamic of the classroom, allowing for deeper understanding and more interactive, engaging discussions during live sessions.
By "flipping" the traditional learning model, we equip our students with the tools for active participation, fostering a more profound and effective educational experience.
At MVA, our teachers are passionate about Flipped Learning and its potential to transform education not just for MVA but for schools around the world.
Minerva’s Virtual Academy is founded on four core concepts (which we call 'Pillars'), which allow us to deliver a highly effective virtual 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.
By getting the basics right, we can foster an environment that encourages our students to flourish both academically and personally. With firm foundations, we have more room to innovate, and to create impactful learning experiences for our students throughout each school week.
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We are incredibly grateful for the support from a diverse and ever-expanding network of partners, all of whom believe in providing quality 'alternative' education for those who need it most.
Our unique partnerships provide remarkable opportunities for our students. These connections span across various industries and fields, not only placing our students at the heart of dynamic and evolving industries, but also ensure they are primed for exciting opportunities upon graduation.
In a world where nearly 1.8 million school-age children in the UK alone grapple with the constraints of traditional schooling, we're providing families with choice, empowering them to make decisions not available to them before.
By collectively reshaping the educational paradigm, we can create a more inclusive, engaging, and rewarding learning experience that caters to all students, not just the majority.
Our HQ team is made up of passionate and dedicated educators, administrators, and support staff, all of whom work together to provide the best possible virtual schooling experience for our students.
Chloe humbly describes her role as 'working behind the scenes to ensure systems and processes run efficiently'. While this is accurate, it barely scratches the surface of her responsibilities. Chloe oversees all school operations - from assigning student sets to ensuring our technology operates as reliably as the school bell.
When asked what her favourite subject would be in a school of the future, Chloe said 'Langlology' - the study of languages that don't exist yet!
Ex-professional goalkeeper Fabian is passionately committed to changing the narrative around sport and education. Day to day, Fabian cultivates ground-breaking partnerships between MVA and sporting organisations, and provides unwavering support to our student-athletes, championing a balance between their academic and athletic pursuits.
Fittingly, his favourite school memory is playing football.
Suzanne leads the way as headteacher at MVA. With extensive experience in schools in the UK and internationally, she is responsible for shaping the quality of MVA's education, which includes leading our teaching and mentoring team, having daily contact with our students and their families, and directing our unique curriculum.
Her favourite subject at school was divided between English Literature and PE.
Sydney is the go-to person for MVA students and parents with questions about, well, anything! Working with Chloe and Mollie, her role is to ensure everything runs smoothly - from welcoming new students and getting everything setup for them to helping parents access information on their child's progress with us.
Her favourite school memory was enchanting audiences as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Over the last eight years since founding Minerva, Hugh's leadership and dedication has enabled thousands of students, overlooked by the traditional system, to receive the education and qualifications they deserve. As a former Classics scholar, Hugh's favourite subjects at school were Latin and Greek. Today, he leads MVA's mission to provide a flexible and affordable alternative to traditional school, and to offer the British Curriculum to any student around the world.
Professional basketballer Sol was a student-athlete in the American system - a place where athletics and education are not as separate as they are in the UK and Europe. Inspired by the possibility to do both, Sol works alongside Fabian to create lasting partnerships with some of the biggest names in sport.
His favourite subject at school was PE.
Kate, a former teacher turned education entrepreneur, leads MVA Studio, the creative powerhouse behind our diverse and engaging educational content. In addition, she co-hosts 'Minerva's Virtual Podcast' (MVP) and is one of MVA’s Senior Leaders, driving innovation and quality education standards week-in-week out.
Her favourite school memory was having Harry Potter duels with her best friend.
Kel runs our social accounts and keeps the MVA community informed with all that's going on day to day at MVA. She joined the school after growing an impressive following on Tiktok and provides Social Media training to our students as part of our unique Wellbeing programme.
The subject Kel would like to study at MVA in 100 years time is 'Interplanetary Civilisations', which she says would be learning how to build on, and adjust to life on, other planets.
While Lawrence runs the school and the teaching staff, Hugo looks after the marketing, admissions, and sales side of what he calls 'the world's most incredible school'. He's been with Minerva since the beginning and has a background in digital marketing.
His favourite memory at school was designing a prototype hydrogen fuelling station.
Laura is the first point of contact for families interested in home education and virtual schooling at MVA. She adeptly guides families through the specifics of our school, the seamless transition process, and illuminates the benefits of our Flipped Learning approach.
Laura's top school memory perfectly aligns with MVA's values: breaking away from campus on a two-month exchange trip to Sydney, Australia.
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Philippa is an experienced people manager and CIPD member with a Master's qualification in Psychology. With over 20 years in education, she has held diverse teaching and Senior Leadership Roles, including Deputy Headteacher and Director of Student Services for a comprehensive school and Multi Academy Trust. Leading staff management, safeguarding, special educational needs, and strategic development, Philippa has cultivated invaluable experience and expertise. Transitioning to self-employment broadened her knowledge in education consultancy and entrepreneurship, while her passion for education, remained steadfast. Philippa joined Minerva’s Virtual Academy full time in January 2024.
Mollie is a cornerstone in the smooth running of MVA. She works hand-in-hand with Chloe and Sydney to facilitate an efficient educational environment, from onboarding new students to assisting parents in any requests they may have. Whether you're a new enrollee or part of the seasoned MVA family, Mollie's there to provide support.
Her favourite subject in school? History!
Samm has worked with Minerva since the beginning - starting as an Education Support Manager at Minerva Tutors she grew the homeschooling department to become one of the biggest in the country. Samm now works alongside Hugh in supporting the MVA team to be the best they can be.
Her favourite school memory was making friends who she considers family to this day.
Strategic Advisor Lawrence Tubb was MVAs founding headmaster, having spent nine years at top private school Wycombe Abbey. Prior to Wycombe Abbey, Mr Tubb taught at Leweston School in Sherbourne as Head of Music. In his role as Strategic Advisor, Lawrence helps the school build on its principles and values of self-reliance, resilience and spirit of community.
Choosing a single favourite school memory proved a challenge for Lawrence, but word has it a recent standout moment was his mesmerising performance of Chopin's Ballade in G minor during his final term at Wycombe Abbey.
In a key role that has been inherited from traditional school but given an MVA upgrade, Kayleigh efficiently manages all of our financial operations, from fees to payroll and expenses, she ensures MVA's long term financial sustainability.
Her memorable school experience? The excitement of joining Year 6 when she finally got the chance to play the steel drums!
Emily guides prospective parents and students seamlessly through the admissions process at MVA. Her extensive experience and daily conversations with parents about their unique needs make her an invaluable voice of advice for new families seeking out virtual schooling for the first time.
Her favourite school memory is when her form won the best picture prize for the school Oscars, featuring a twist on High School Musical, naturally!
Drawing on her wide-ranging experience in the independent school sector, Clare plays a pivotal role in shaping MVA's mission and public image. She specialises in forging enduring partnerships with schools, councils, and educational agents, working tirelessly to ensure flexible and accessible education becomes a reality for students underserved by the conventional system.
Among her treasured school memories is the joy of participating in lively rounders matches on sunny summer days.
