Abstract
Being entered for exams and reaching key educational thresholds, for example 5 A* to C grades (including English and Mathematics) at GCSE, are important markers of participation and success in secondary education. However, little is known about the prevalence and make‐up of children in care reaching these thresholds. Using secondary data analysis, we compared the proportions of children in care, children ‘in need’ and children in the general population who achieved four key thresholds, including exam entry and 5 A* to C grades, including English and Mathematics. We then focused on children in care and examined factors that predicted exam entry and achieving 5 A* to C grades, including English and Mathematics. Children receiving social care interventions were less likely than children in the general population to be entered for exams or to reach important educational thresholds. For children in care, several socio‐demographic, care and educational factors predicted their likelihood of success. No children with an autistic spectrum disorder or who had ever been permanently excluded were recorded to have achieved 5 A* to C grades, including English and Mathematics. Children with poor attainment at Key Stage 2 were also at significant risk of not achieving this threshold. Practitioners and policymakers should consider the modifiable risk factors for poor educational performance and be aware of groups of children in care who are at significant risk of not achieving a minimum standard which could open doors for their future.
Highlights
Children in care are children under the age of 18 who are provided support by the state, under the provisions of the Children Act 1989 and subsequent amendments
To answer our second research question, we focused on the children looked after (CLA)-LT group only and examined the predictors of outcome 1 and outcome 4
The children in care for 12 months or less (CLA-ST) and children with a child ‘in need’ plan (CIN) were both less likely to be entered for any exams than the other groups, but were not different from each other
Summary
Children in care ( referred to as ‘children looked after’ in England) are children under the age of 18 who are provided support by the state, under the provisions of the Children Act 1989 and subsequent amendments. This provision should include safe and nurturing accommodation and welfare provision to meet their health, education and other developmental needs. In England, for example, [Sebba et al, 2015] found that young people in care performed well below their peers in the general population in Key Stage 4 exams (age 16). This was not consistent across all groups of children in care: those in longer-term care had better attainment at 16 and made greater progress in secondary school than young people in care for shorter periods of time or young people who were ‘in need’ at 16
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
