Darren Martindale (BA, PGCE, MA) is the Virtual School Head for Children & Young People in care and Previously in Care at City of Wolverhampton Council. He has previously also held strategic management of inclusion, attendance, children missing education, young offenders, and elective home education. He has over 20 years of experience in this area, having spent several years as a secondary teacher beforehand. As a virtual head and former Chair of the West Midlands Network of Virtual School Heads, he has worked with Ofsted on raising their awareness of the needs of children in care and disadvantaged pupils, and contributed to DfE statutory guidance. Darren writes regularly on inclusion for publications such as SecEd and Headteacher Update, as well as authoring training courses. Projects managed by his service have won, and been shortlisted for, various national awards in inclusion and corporate parenting and he has been recognised as an ‘Outstanding City Ambassador’ by the City of Wolverhampton Council.