Introduction
The Extraordinary Lives report acknowledges that looked after children and young people can face additional barriers to success in education, including a lack of full-time education (sometimes for substantial periods of time) when they are excluded from school. In addition, it highlights particular difficulties faced by children in residential schools, including a shorter school week and weaknesses in pupils' attainment in English and maths.
Because of poorer educational attainment at school, fewer looked after children go into further and especially higher education. Raising the educational attainment level would provide greater opportunities for them to benefit from further or higher education. Educational attainment in itself will not be enough, however, and colleges and universities must be responsive to the holistic needs of this group.
Of course, some looked after children and young people do well at school in relation to their attendance and attainment and go on to further education, employment and training.
Building on the publication of the 2001 Learning with Care report, there have been a variety of policy initiatives, both locally and nationally, to support children and young people to do this.
LAC Educational Attainment Pilot Projects
In October 2004 the then Scottish Executive announced £6 million of funding to support a programme of pilots across local authorities designed to improve the educational attainment of looked after children. Since then, 20 local authorities have received funding for their pilot projects, namely: Aberdeen City, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, Edinburgh City, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian.
In March 2007 East Ayrshire was the first pilot project to come to an end. The remaining pilot projects ended at various points throughout the financial year 2007-08.
The University of Strathclyde was commissioned to review 18 of the local authority pilot projects and aimed to identify interventions that appeared to make the most difference in terms of the educational experience and outcomes of the participating looked after children and young people.
Final research report
The research identified a number of key factors of success, for example:
- individualising the approach (keeping the child at the centre), being flexible, including involving the young person to choose the focus of learning, and providing a breadth of learning opportunities
- developing trusting and long-lasting relationships between project staff and young people
- using activities that encouraged the development of resilience in young people, particularly at key transition points in the school careers of children and young people.
Improving the Education of Looked After Children: A Guide for Local Authorities and Service Providers was the final product commissioned as part of the national research into the programme of pilot initiatives. The guide is aimed at everyone involved in being a corporate parent to Scotland’s looked after children and young people and care leavers and is based on the key findings of the national research.
The Final Research Report is available from the Scottish Government website.
Educational attainment of Looked After Children
In this video lead researcher Dr Graham Connelly talks about the key findings of the research, and highlights some of the interventions that appeared to make the most difference.
Related links
Lifelong learners publications
Collection of the most relevant reports, regulations and research about inclusive education and lifelong learning.
Education links
Resources for professionals who are supporting the education of looked after children.