AV1 in Manchester Hospital School: Helping Students Maintain Curriculum Access and Return To School

Manchester Hospital School's core philosophy is to break down the educational barriers young people face when illness or mental health needs keep them out of the classroom, giving every student a sense of belonging and the chance to succeed academically regardless of their health challenges. AV1 robots are one of the flexible, creative tools the school uses to make that possible, acting as a window into the classroom so students can see, hear and speak to their teachers and peers in real time even when they can't be there in person.

What began as a pilot of just one or two robots six years ago has grown into a fleet of 31, supported by the local authority. Behind that growth sits a robust support package: personalised plans for each school using a robot, regular reviews, and hands-on troubleshooting when technical issues arise.

Some schools are initially cautious about AV1, particularly around GDPR, privacy and confidentiality. The team addresses this head-on with training, clear documentation and direct support, which helps reassure staff and gets robots into classrooms with confidence. Schools that get the most out of AV1 tend to share a few traits: they're proactive, flexible about the logistics of getting a robot in and out of lessons, and diligent about reviewing how the student is getting on.

The impact shows up in small, practical ways. For students easing back into school after time away, AV1 offers a staggered, "small steps" route back in, reducing the anxiety that a full return can bring. Others use the robot to keep up with lessons from a hospital bed or from home, which smooths the eventual transition back into the physical classroom. The robots have proved especially valuable for Year 11 students, keeping them connected to their curriculum lessons in the run-up to GCSEs.

Day to day, allocation and oversight is handled by a small, efficient team of business support staff, IT technicians and the Assistant Head Teacher working together. Every placement starts with a formal consultation, and once a student no longer needs the robot, the team gathers feedback through an exit questionnaire, so the process keeps improving with every student it supports.

Thank you to Sarah and the whole team at Manchester Hospital School for sharing how their AV1 fleet has grown from a small pilot into a fully-supported, 31-robot solution and for the work they do every day to keep students connected to their education, whatever health challenges they're facing.