News

Only 8 per cent of looked-after children aged 16 achieved five GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C in the 12 months to the end of September 2002, according to the Department of Health.

The figure, which is unchanged from 2001, has cast uncertainty over the government's target to increase by 4 per cent every year from 2002-2006 the number of children in care who achieve the grades.

The number of looked-after children who achieved at least one GCSE or GNVQ rose from 50 to 53 per cent.