Helping pupils in care achieve more

Children in care tend not to achieve good results

Young people in public care are to be asked how they can be supported and encouraged to achieve better results at school.

It is no secret that youngsters in care are marred by under-achievement at school and ministers believe this affects their chances later in life.

We must do more to see that they get the same educational opportunities that we would expect for our own children

Jacqui Smith, Health Minister

Research carried out by the Institute of Education at London University last year found only 1% of care leavers went on to university, compared to one in three school leavers in the general population.

And just 3% of youngsters in care got five or more GCSEs at grade C or above - but across the school population as a whole, 49% achieved this level, the research found.

Children in care are also two and a half times more likely to become teenage parents.

Investigation

Now the government's social exclusion unit (SEU) is conducting a major investigation into ways of boosting their performance at school.

Having someone to talk to is valuable

The SEU will examine six local authority areas in England.

Social services, local education authorities, teachers, charities and carers will also be approached by the SEU for their opinions on how to improve the situation.

'Committed'

The Education Minister Baroness Ashton said the government was committed to raising education standards for children in public care.

The Health Minister, Jacqui Smith said: "We know that doing badly at school has a major impact on these children's chances later in life and we must do more to see that they get the same educational opportunities that we would expect for our own children."

Cabinet Office Minister Barbara Roche said: "By carrying out such in-depth research and consultation, the SEU's policy recommendations are based on solid evidence and involve people with direct experience of the issues in the project."

Last week the Welsh foster child, Suzanne Turley, 16, won the right to study at the private school, Gordonstoun, after threatening to take Wrexham Council to court over its refusal to pay the £19,000 pounds a year fees.

She has now set up a fund to help pay the school fees of other children in care.