Care children schooling pledge

School support for children in care in Derbyshire is being revamped amid country-wide concerns that they are not getting the results they could.

Derbyshire County council currently has around 500 children in care and an action plan has been drawn up to improve performance.

As a result, educational teams of teachers and social workers in Derbyshire are to be reorganised.

These will have clearer instructions and new management systems.

Wasting potential

The recording and checking of results is also to be improved.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for education, said: "We are committed to raising the educational achievement of the young people looked after by Derbyshire County Council.

"A child's education has a high impact on their life chances.

"Even though children looked-after by Derbyshire County Council perform in line with the national average, the national picture is that looked-after children are not achieving their potential."

The changes are due to come into force immediately.