Care children in North 100 times more likely to be expelled from school

Children living in foster or residential care are 100 times more likely to be expelled from school that other school age children.

The educational and behavioural problems of looked after children were highlighted today in figures published by the Department of Health and Social Services.

They showed that while there had been a marginal improvement in educational attainment of those in care between 2002 and 2006 they did significantly less well than their peers in the general school population, and less well that those in care in England.

And many more children in care aged 10 or over were cautioned or convicted for a criminal offence in 2005-2006 – 11% compared with just 1% of the general school population.

Most recent figures showed that at the end of September 2006 there were 1,480 children being looked after by Health and Social Services Trusts in the North.

Of the total 83% were of school age and of those 23% had special educational need – compared with 4% of the general school population.

Two per cent of the school age children were expelled from school – twice as many as in England – and 100 times the 0.02% of schoolchildren in general.

At the same time 11% of school age children were cautioned or convicted for criminal offences, compared to 1% of the general school population – over two thirds were boys.

One in 12 were suspended from school compared to 2% of children generally and 10% missed 29 or more days schooling in the year.

Only 55% of those who sat Key Stage 1 English achieved Level 2 or above, compared to 95% of the general school population.

When it came to maths , attainment of Level 2 dropped to 50% – lower than the 65% in England and 96% in the general population in the North.

When it came to Key Stage 2 English attainment of Level 4 or above dropped to less than a quarter, 24%, compared with 78% of the general school population, and 43% in England.

When it came to maths only 21% achieved the level 4 or above at Key Stage 2, compared with 80% in general and 41% in England.

Almost one in six – 16% – gained five or more GCSEs/GNVQs at grades A*-C, compared with 63% of the general school population – but ahead of the 12% of their counterparts in England.