Today we report that children in the care of some councils are five times less likely to leave school with at least one GCSE than others. This postcode lottery is further shocking evidence that many “looked after” children are failing to achieve even the bare minimum. Yet others manage to do well at school, often against fearful odds.
The reasons for this widespread institutional failure are complex. Children who do succeed usually do so because they get the stability and support they need -at home and at school - and are set high expectations.
With these principles in mind, The TES is stepping up its Time to Care campaign with a six-point manifesto, setting out some ideas we believe will bring success to many more children (page 16). Now we would like to hear from you, our readers, what you think.
