A better education for children in care: Social Exclusion Unit report

Author:
GREAT BRITAIN. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Social Exclusion Unit
Publisher:
Great Britain. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Social Exclusion Unit
Publication year:
2003
Pagination:
100p.
Place of publication:
London

Statistics show that children in care have particularly low levels of attainment. Only eight per cent of 16 year olds who had spent at least one year in care in 2001 achieved five A– C grades at GCSE, compared to half of all young people. In Key Stage tests at age seven, 11 and 14, they also had poor results, and just one per cent go on to university. There are five key reasons why children in care underachieve in education: too many young people’s lives are characterised by instability; young people in care spend too much time out of school or other learning environments; children do not have sufficient help with their education if they get behind; primary carers are not always expected, or equipped, to provide sufficient support and encouragement for learning and development; and many children have unmet emotional, mental and physical health needs.

Subject terms:
looked after children, policy formulation, primary care, qualifications, school social work, social exclusion, education, educational performance;
Content type:
government publication
Link:
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