Ensuring that looked after children receive a high quality education is the foundation for improving their lives. They themselves have told us how important this is. Current levels of achievement still show that looked after children are well behind the achievement levels of their peers.
The Department's report Outcomes for children looked after showed that in 2012 only 14.6% per cent of looked after children who have been looked after for at least a year achieved five good GCSEs including English and maths, compared to 58.1% per cent for non-looked after children.
There have been improvements since the Department began collecting information in 2000 but progress has been too slow.
Narrowing the gap between the achievement of looked after children and all young people remains a high priority. Everyone involved in the life of a looked after child can do more to support them to succeed in education and reach their full potential.
Children’s Minister, Edward Timpson, has written to all directors of children’s services and lead members. His letter announces the Government’s intention to put the post of virtual school head onto a statutory footing.
It also encourages local authorities to examine what they do to support their children against the best practice identified in Ofsted’s thematic inspection of virtual schools and the All Party Parliamentary Group report on the educational attainment of looked after children.
The Children’s Minister has also written to foster carers to thank them for the important role that they play in supporting the children they care for to do well.
