A good education
A look at the barriers to a good education and how things are beginning to improve.
Ambitious parents across the country use increasingly complex strategies to get their children into a good school. With such competition, it’s not very surprising that a child with a ‘corporate parent’ has historically been less likely to make the cut for a school with few discipline problems and impressive exam results.
Children in care are also more likely to move around, are about ten times more likely to have a statement of special educational needs and may be distracted by the fallout from a history of abuse and neglect. These are not things that are easy to leave at the school door: children in care are also eight times as likely to be excluded from school.
All of this makes it unsurprising that in 2009 only 15% of cared for children got 5 GCSEs at A* - C grades, compared to 70% of all school children.1 View more statistics on the educational achievements of children in care.
Inspiration to learn
Despite all this, some children in care can and do get the best out of the education system. For some that will mean good school grades and a university degree. For others, it will mean finding a vocation that leads to work they enjoy. The linking factor for those who do well despite their care experience seems to be an inspiring person who has faith in a young person’s abilities.
Visit Who Cares? Town, our brand new website for young people in care, for inspirational stories about care leavers who have achieved amazing things at school and beyond.
Getting better educational support
Recent government legislation has suggested a number of ways that children in care can get more help. Since 2006, local authorities have had the power to make schools admit children in care, even if the school is already full.
Many local authorities have now appointed virtual headteachers for children in care, and it became a statutory requirement for all schools to appoint a designated teacher from September 2009. Both of these positions play a crucial role in raising the educational achievements of young people in care.
There is also financial support available. Children who are struggling at school are now entitled to an extra £500 a year for add-ons to their education. The child should be part of the decision-making process about how this money is best spent.
1 DCSF Statistical First Release (SFR) on Outcome Indicators for Children Looked After, Twelve months to 30 September 2009 - England http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000930/index.shtml
News
- New publication for young people in care about post-16 opportunities - 27-Jan-2012
- Pay foster carers annual fees, says The Policy Exchange - 27-Jan-2012
- Care system found to counter offending - 27-Jan-2012
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