Hugh Viney

Founder and CEO

Hugh Viney is the founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy, a multi-award-winning online school for students aged 11 to 18, and of MVA Tutors, a one-to-one tutoring service. His work has centred on a single question: how can school fit the child rather than forcing the child to fit the school? Founded in 2021, Minerva Virtual Academy has grown to more than 1,400 full-time students in 60 countries in just over four years, making it the UK’s fastest-growing school and the largest online school of its kind accredited by the Department for Education. He leads its mission to offer a flexible, supportive and affordable alternative to traditional school, giving more young people access to the British curriculum, with a philosophy that prioritizes student wellbeing, confidence and interdisciplinary learning. Under his leadership the school has won the Grand Prix at the Education Investor Awards 2021, Best Technology-Led Teaching at the Muddy Stilettos Best School Awards and Best Company in the UK with under 50 employees at the National Business Awards, as well as Tutoring Business of the Year and Online School of the Year at the National Tutoring Awards in both 2024 and 2025. In 2025 the school was nominated for the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation, and he was named Education Innovator of the Year on the EducationInvestor Power List.