The educational attainment of looked-after children improved by 3
per cent last year but still lies far behind the national average,
according to figures.
Four out of 10 of the 45,000 children in care in 2004 obtained five
GCSEs or more. But the figure is well below the national average of
nearly nine out of 10, the Office of National Statistics survey
shows.
The number of children in care increased by 100 in 2004, according
to the survey.
Permanent exclusions from school for looked-after children fell
from 380 to 320 and the number who had received an annual health
check increased by 1,000.
Article continues below the advertisement
Barnardo's principal policy officer Pam Hibbert welcomed the
progress that had been made but criticised the government's main
target for children in care of achieving one GSCE as reflecting low
expectations.
"Why are our aspirations for children in the care of the state
different from children in the care of their parents? Although they
are making progress they are still lagging behind."
