EDUCATIONAL targets set to be reached by the UK’s 60,000 children in care are being watered down by the Government, according to the Liberal Democrats.
Instead of three-quarters of 15-year-olds in care getting at least one GCSE (this year’s target), 90 per cent will be expected to have taken an exam by 2006.
The numbers who get good GCSE grades or the equivalent will be expected to rise by 4 percentage points a year.
New targets have been set for 11-year-olds, whose results are expected to be 60 per cent as good as the national average by 2006.
Paul Burstow, Lib Dem MP, said that ministers should have set a target for reducing truancy rates, which have a direct impact on educational achievements.
