The Government has admitted it will miss its targets for school-leavers but says it is on course to reach its goal for 11-year-olds.
GCSE results of those in care have not improved since 2003. More than half leave care without a single GCSE or equivalent and only 6 per cent get five A*-Cs, meaning even the Government’s 2001 GCSE target has yet to be met.
By the time they are 19, at least a third of care leavers are not in education, employment or training, compared with one in ten of their peers.
Exclusions of children in care have fallen slightly - but they are still nine times more likely to be excluded than others. Fewer than 100 care-leavers go to university each year.