Vision
The Rosmini Hybrid Education Hub, based in Loughborough, welcomes students aged 11-16 years. It is a transformative model of education: Combining the benefits and flexibility of award winning, world class home schooling, Minerva Virtual Academy, with the support of an in-person, holistic learning hub. With inclusivity at its heart, this nurturing environment offers a space where students thrive – supported through study supervision and collaboration, co-curricular enrichment and meaningful relationships – so that each individual has the opportunity to participate fully, grow confidently and fulfil their unique potential.
Background
Rosimini Hybrid is a holistic education fuelled by survival and vision. It has been initiated by a group of parents and alumni impacted by the closure of Loughborough Amherst School (LAS), formally known as Our Lady’s Convent School (OLCS). The closure of a truly inclusive, nurturing and loving school community – unmatched anywhere locally – has been truly devastating. It has been recognised that the closure represents a huge loss to the pupils at the school, many of whom have failed to thrive in previous state school settings.
Rosmini Hybrid continues the legacy of OLCS/LAS, ensuring that the founding values and educational principles of these schools live on. It embodies a Minerva learning culture centred on growth mindset, individual personal development and the Rosminian belief that “a pupil must be allowed to grow and develop as an integrated (rounded) human person”.
Underpinned by Christian values and retaining the Catholic heritage of OLCS/LAS, Rosmini Hybrid warmly welcomes children of all faiths and none. It adopts the motto “Legis Plenitudo Caritas” (Love is the fulfilment of the law), and it promotes the same virtues: Challenge – Care – Confidence.
Why a hybrid model to education?
The creation of Rosmini Hybrid follows a shift that is already beginning to take place, replacing the old view of schooling where children need to be on a physical site for five days per week.
Rosmini Hybrid offers a flexible educational model for parents and their children, whereby children obtain their core education from world class, established online independent school, Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), whilst accessing on-site study support, co-curricular/enrichment activities and social contact with peers.
Britain’s first hybrid school was established in September 2024. According to a parent: “The hybrid model offers a perfect blend of in-person and online learning, which helps my son maintain focus and engagement. It allows for a more tailored learning experience, accommodating his pace and style of learning. The hybrid model also fosters independence, critical thinking and adaptability – skills that are essential for success in both academics and life beyond school.”
Rosmini Hybrid is particularly aimed at helping a group of children becoming known in the media as “the lost middle”. These are the pupils who are not at the very top or bottom of the ability range, but whose needs and potential are often overlooked.
Mental health difficulties, neurodiversity, specific learning difficulties (eg. dyslexia), physical health difficulties or problems with the school environment (eg. bullying) can disenfranchise the “lost middle” from mainstream school, meaning they either fail to thrive or refuse to attend.
However, their needs are also “not special enough” for a SEN school, being too academic or otherwise able for the type of provision available in these settings. School absence due to emotional reasons since the pandemic have increased by about 68%, with nearly 1 in 4 children now being persistently absent from school.
A hybrid model has a number of key benefits. Firstly, the provision of core education through home/online learning means that there is no pressure on children to attend an in-person setting five days per week. However, the combination of home/online schooling with regular in-person provision reduces social isolation or missing out on activities that are best provided in-person. The small, close-knit setting will feel more comfortable and nurturing than a traditional school setting, reducing the risk of overwhelm or being ‘lost’ in the crowd.
Rosmini Hybrid provides a flexible model for education, combining home/online learning with a holistic, in-person co-curricular experience. Catering better to each pupil’s individual needs than traditional educational institutions, the hybrid model emphasises self-development, adaptability, well-being and social responsibility.
How does Rosmini Hybrid Education Hub work in practice?
Rosmini Hybrid is partnering with Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), a world class, established online independent school, which provides the core academic education for students. https://www.minervavirtual.com
MVA has been carefully chosen as our online educator due to its values being closely aligned with LAS/OLCS and its connection with the Minerva philosophy, which was embedded into the education at LAS. MVA provides children with a UK curriculum full standard timetable of academic subjects and covers GCSE and A’ Level syllabuses. You can read more about MVA in the appendix.
Alongside this, Rosmini Hybrid provides a flexible on-site holistic learning environment where pupils are supported in independent/online study, where collaboration in learning is encouraged and where they engage with co-curricular and enrichment activities. This ensures the opportunity for face-to-face social interactions and the development of an “in-person” community, where all pupils find a safe, inclusive environment and the right support to grow their confidence and skills.
Rosmini Hybrid Education Hub will operate on a Friday each week. When numbers increase, there will be a 2 day provision on a Thursday and Friday. The location will be The Arc Community Hub in Loughborough.
The co-curricular and enrichment activities are designed to help support a holistic education, focusing on the development of every pupil’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical and creative potential. This includes the promotion of wellbeing and the development of life skills. Activities involve sports sessions, music, assemblies, yoga, games, art, and cooking. There are opportunities for mini projects and events such as debating competitions, research and presentations, plays and experiments. There is a focus on life skills and personal development, such as how to manage money or apply for jobs, as well as lessons about emotional development and health.
Moreover, qualified and experienced staff are available to all pupils to help them in their learning, assess gaps, link with MVA teachers and deliver the holistic education.
Would like to know more?
Please e-mail: info@rosminihybrid.com and we will arrange a phone or online meeting to discuss your requirements.
Appendix: Minerva’s Virtual Academy
MVA was founded in 2020 as an affordable, accessible online independent school for 11–18-year-olds. It is a multi-award winning Department of Education accredited online independent school with Cambridge international accreditation with a glowing Ofsted report.
Starting with 7 pupils, MVA has grown rapidly and now serves over 1,000 children around the world. Pupil numbers doubled in size in 2024 alone. Approximately half of the pupils have a diagnosed special educational need.
MVA’s mission statement is to provide a world-class alternative to bricks and mortar schools, one teacher, one student and one day at a time.
Breakdown of MVA’s mission:
- Personalised learning (tailored learning experience to individual student);
- Inclusivity and support (for all student, including neurodiverse and SEND pupils);
- Flexible education (learn anywhere in the world and meets unique needs and aspirations);
- British curriculum (solid foundation for future academic success);
- Developing essential skills (self-sufficiency, collaboration, problem solving, creativity and critical thinking);
- Global scholars (ideal for families on the move areas with limited access to education);
- Reimagining education (a learning environment that is effective and engaging);
- Focus on well-being (recognising student well-being and mental health are important in academic success).
MVA aims to provide a world-class, flexible, and personalised British education, empowering students to thrive academically and personally, with a focus on inclusivity and preparing them for the 21st Century.
MVA’s activity is based on four pillars: Virtual Learning Platform – Live Lessons – Mentoring – Community and School Trips. It provides two assemblies per week, an enrichment programme, clubs, social rooms (like online common rooms) and live lessons (including breakout rooms) with various opportunities for interaction. Classes are formed by a maximum of 20 students, and current parents agree that “the school knows every student”.
In terms of learning, MVA adopts a ‘flipped learning’ model, meaning that for every live class there is a self-study lesson first, including home grown videos (no YouTube), plus quizzes, activities, summaries, etc. The former lasts between 10 and 90 minutes, depending on the year group, while live lessons are 45 to 55 minutes – with wellbeing breaks in between. Students say it means learning is “more stimulating” and “there’s no time wasting”. Lessons are “fast paced” and “pitched well” with extension material available in all subjects.
Every pupil is assigned a personal mentor (trained by the mental health and SEND teams) with whom they meet weekly, or more if needed, to discuss academic progress, workload and wellbeing. Every fortnight, parents receive a report from them (along with half termly progress and engagement reports). There is also a weekly 45-minute wellbeing session on, for eg. emotional intelligence, stress management or communication.
MVA has an ‘all or nothing’ timetable – so no dipping in and out of subjects as at some online schools – while at GCSE, students choose from the core subjects of Mathematics, English Language, and the three sciences (dual or triple), plus up to four from a wide mix of subjects, currently including Computer Science, English Literature, French, German, Spanish, Psychology, Art and Design, and Global Citizenship. There are fifteen A levels on offer and a BTEC in Sports. Teachers are all subject specialists and many of them past senior leaders. In 2024, MVA’s academic results were: 18% 9-7 at GCSE, with 82% 9-4 in both English and Maths; 30% A*/A and 35% A*-B at A-levels.
