Publication of 'Outcome indicators for looked after children in Northern Ireland year ending 30 September 2006'

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published a statistical bulletin summarising information on children in care for twelve months or longer in Northern Ireland at 30 September 2006.

This statistical bulletin presents information on children and young people looked after continuously for at least 12 months at 30 September 2006, gathered from legacy Health and Social Services Trusts.

It provides findings from the OC2 collection of information on the educational achievements of these young people at Key Stage Assessments, and GCSE/GNVQ. It also includes information on their age and gender, religion, disability, length of time in care, placement type, offences and convictions, and health assessments completed.

The main findings from the 2006 survey indicate that whilst there has been some marginal improvement in the educational attainment of children in care in Northern Ireland between 2002 and 2006, children in care in Northern Ireland do significantly less well when compared with their peers in the general school population and with looked after children in England.

Key Facts and Figures

• At 30 September 2006, there were 1,480 children looked after by Health and Social Services (HSS) Trusts in Northern Ireland who had been looked after continuously for at least 12 months.
• 1,223 (83%) of these children were of school age, and of these 23% had a statement of SEN compared with 28% of the same group in England, and 4% of the general school population in Northern Ireland.
• 26 (2%) looked after children of school age were expelled in 2005/06, slightly higher than the figure for looked after children in England (1%), and much higher than the rate among the general school population in Northern Ireland (0.02%).
• 111 (11%) of the 1005 looked after children aged 10 & over were cautioned or convicted in 2005/06, compared with 10% of looked after children in England, and 1% of all children in Northern Ireland. Of those convicted, over two thirds were boys (68%).
• One in 12 (8%) looked after children of school age were suspended from school in 2005/06, compared with 2% of the general school population in Northern Ireland.
• 10% of children looked after for at least 12 months missed 29 or more days of schooling in 2005/06.
• Over half (55%) looked after children in Northern Ireland who sat Key Stage 1 English achieved Level 2 or above, compared with 95% of the equivalent school population. For Key Stage 1 Maths, 50% of looked after children in Northern Ireland achieved Level 2 or above, which was lower than the 65% of looked after children in England and 96% of the general school population.
• Almost one quarter (24%) of looked after children in Northern Ireland achieved Level 4 or above in Key Stage 2 English assessments, compared with 78% of the general school population and 43% of looked after children in England.
• Over one fifth (21%) of looked after children in Northern Ireland achieved Level 4 or above in Key Stage 2 Maths, compared with 80% of the general school population in Northern Ireland, and 41% of looked after children in England.
• Almost one quarter (24%) of looked after children in Northern Ireland achieved Level 5 or above in Key Stage 3 English, five percentage points higher than 2001/02 (19%). This compared to 77% of the general school population in Northern Ireland, and 28% of looked after children in England
• In Key Stage 3 Maths, over one fifth (22%) of looked after children in Northern Ireland achieved Level 5 or above, six percentage points higher than the equivalent proportion in 2001/02 (16%). However, this compared to 73% of the general school population in Northern Ireland, and 33% of looked after children in England.
• For Key Stage 3 Science, almost one quarter (23%) looked after children in Northern Ireland achieved Level 5 or above, compared with 15% in 2002/02. However, this compared to 75% of the general school population, and 29% of looked after children in England.
• Over half (56%) the children looked after in Northern Ireland attained at least 1 GCSE/GNVQ at grades A*-G, an increase of 14 percentage points from 2002/03.This compared with almost all (97%) of the general school population in Northern Ireland, and 63% of looked after children in England.
• Almost one in six (16%) children looked after attained five or more GCSEs/GNVQs at grades A*-C, compared with 63% of the general school population in Northern Ireland, and 12% of looked after children in England1. The figure for looked after children in Northern Ireland is eight percentage points higher than the 8% than the equivalent figure for 2002/03 (8%).
• At the end of school Year 12, 44% of looked after children remained in full-time education compared with 64% of looked after children in England, 14% were unemployed compared with 20% in England, and 14% of children were in full-time training compared with 7% in England.

Notes to Editors:

1. This publication is available online

2. About the data:

• The source of the data contained in this release is the Departmental OC2 statistical return, collected from legacy Health and Social Services Trusts during the period October 2006 to August 2008
• Figures incorporate all returns and amendments received from legacy HSS Trusts up to August 2008

3. This statistical bulletin was produced by Community Information Branch, DHSSPS.

Further information is available from:

Community Information Branch
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Room 11, Annexe 2,
Castle Buildings,
Stormont Belfast BT4 3SP

Tel: (028) 90 520727
Fax: (028) 90 523288

E-mail

Internet

4. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 02890 520074, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.