“There has been a six percentage point improvement in the GCSE
results of children growing up in care”, Education Secretary
said today as she set out
steps to help looked after children.
The Cabinet Secretary has reported on progress to better support
the education of children who are looked after and outlined her
plans for action to continue to raise their educational
attainment and make sure they have the same opportunities as
their peers.
An annual report on the three year plan for looked after
children highlights the progress being made, including an
improvement in GSCE results. In 2016 23 per cent of
children who are looked after achieved the equivalent of
five GCSEs at grade A*–C in English or Welsh first language
and mathematics, a 6 percentage points increase on
2015.
The Welsh Government has also worked with Cardiff
University – CASCADE to create a new online hub to share
information and resources focusing on children in care to
help improve their educational outcomes.
The Education Secretary has committed to:
- Looking at the training available to schools and
further education colleges with a responsibility for
children who are looked after.
- Getting local authorities to review the roles of key
workers with a responsibility for children who are looked
after.
- Working with the third sector to consider better ways
of supporting children who are often difficult to engage in
education.
- Making better use of the data available to help looked
after children.
The Education Secretary recently announced that the
Pupil Development Grant will be extended to provide support
to three year old looked after children during their early
years in schools. This is part of more than £90m this year to
help disadvantaged pupils.
said:
“Central to our national mission of education reform is
for all children to do well and reach their potential,
whatever their background. Looked after children must
have the same opportunities as their peers. We have seen
an excellent improvement in the GCSE results of those in
care and we have committed more funding to build on this,
but I want to go further.
“Children often enter care come from a background of
family crisis or breakdown. While we can not change their
personal experiences, we will continue to support them
through their education and prepare them for adulthood.
“Research shows that all too often that simply by being
‘in care’ the expectations placed on these young people
reduce. We are taking action to face this issue head on
and will continue to do so.”
