Goverment Failing Children Leaving Care

12.00.00am GMT Thu 28th Nov 2002

Burstow: "Setting targets to achieve in GCSEs is distorting the priorities of social services."

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Social Services, commenting on the new figures released by the Department of Health on the educational achievement of children leaving care showing that 6 out of 10 get no GCSEs and that only 5% get 5 A*-C GCSEs, said:

"It is not surprising that looked after children who have experienced abuse, neglect, rape, torture, disability, bereavement and homelessness are failing to achieve when many are not allocated a social worker and almost all experience some form of mental health issues."

"Setting targets to achieve in GCSEs is distorting the priorities of social services. Their first concern should be to get these most vulnerable of children back on their feet after horrendous and traumatic experiences.

"Ministers must concentrate on reducing truancy and exclusion if they are to achieve any successes in improving the outcomes of children leaving care."