Latest figures

Current educational outcomes for children in care 

The DCSF recently published outcome indicators for children in care for the 12 months to 30 September 2009. [Download report]

The report reveals that: 

• 27% of looked after children had a statement of Special Educational Needs, compared to 2.7% of all school children
• 0.4% of looked after children were permanently excluded from school, compared to 0.1% of all school children
• 46% of looked after children achieved level 4 in Key Stage 2 English, compared to 80% of all school children
• 46% of looked after children achieved level 4 in Key Stage 2 Maths, compared to 79% of all school children
• Only 68% of looked after children obtained at least one GCSE or equivalent, compared with 99% of all school children
• Only 15% of looked after children achieved at least 5 grades A*-C at GCSE, compared to 70% off all school children

How do these results compare with national targets?

The Government's 2007 Public Service Agreement (Target 11) aims to narrow the gap between children from lower income families and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. This target includes two indicators that specifically address the needs of looked after children:

1) "Indicator 4: Proportion of children in care achieving Level 4 in English and Level 4 in mathematics at Key Stage 2"

The national target: The government has set a national target to increase the proportion of children in care at Key Stage 2 achieving level 4 in English to 60 per cent by 2011, and level 4 in mathematics to 55 per cent by 2011.

The current picture: In 2009, only 46% of looked after children had achieved level 4 in both Key Stage 2 English and Maths. 

2) "Indicator 5: Proportion of children in care achieving 5A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) at Key Stage 4"

The national target: To increase the proportion of children in care achieving 5 A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) at Key Stage 4 to 20% by 2011.

The current picture: In 2009, only 15% of LAC achieved at least 5 grades A*-C at GCSE, compared to 70% off all school children.

News

• Government policies on access to further and higher education abandon care leavers to the whims of localism, says report - 16-Mar-2012
• The Trust calls for Government to look wider than adoption - 14-Mar-2012
• Care leaves most looked-after children better off, study finds - 12-Mar-2012

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