News

Campaigners have called on schools to be given targets to improve the educational achievement of looked-after children after wide differences were revealed across England.

Merton Council in London achieved the best GCSE results last year with 35 per cent of looked-after children obtaining five grade Cs or above. But in 16 authorities no one reached that standard.

In Gateshead, 80 per cent of children in care attained five GCSEs at grade G or above, but 14 authorities recorded less than 30 per cent.


In 36 authorities, more than half of looked-after children a single GCSE at grade C or above, according to the Department for Education and Skills.

Overall, less than 10 per cent of looked-after children gained five GCSEs at grade C or above last year, compared with a national average of 54 per cent.

And less than one in four looked-after children achieved level five at Key Stage 3 compared with an average for all children of 70 per cent.

Barnardo's principal policy officer, Pam Hibbert, said the figures reflected the variation of the quality of children's care.

But she said more of the onus should be moved on to schools for meeting the targets rather than local authorities, which often had little control over issues, such as exclusions, that affect achievement.


Merton attributes its performance to the introduction of a dedicated team to oversee the education of looked-after children and "flying tutors", who provide private tuition at the request of pupils.

A spokesperson for the DfES said: "Large percentage differences in the educational achievement of looked-after children between authorities can sometimes be explained by the small numbers of children involved.

"However, we are committed to ensuring that looked-after children should have the same life chances that any parent would give their child, including a good education."