Publication of ‘Children in Care in Northern Ireland 2008/09 Statistical Bulletin’

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published a statistical bulletin summarising information on children in care.

This statistical bulletin presents information on children and young people looked after continuously for at least 12 months at 30 September 2009, gathered from Health & Social Care Trusts.

It details findings 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 survey indicate that between 2006 and 2009, the educational attainment of children in care in Northern Ireland has improved in some areas and remained static in others. Overall, children in care in Northern Ireland continue to do significantly less well when compared with their peers in the general school population and with looked after children in England.

Key Findings

• At 30 September 2009, 1,653 children and young people had been looked after continuously for 12 months or longer in Northern Ireland; of which, 52% were boys and 48% were girls; 97% were white, and 13% were disabled
• Over three quarters (77%) of children were of school age; 24% had a statement of Special Educational Need, 1% had a permanent exclusion, 8% had been suspended from school, and 10% had missed at least 25 school days within the relevant academic year.
• During 2008/09, approximately two thirds of children eligible for assessment at Key Stage 1, attained Level 2 or above. In English (63%) and in Maths (70%); equivalent figures for the general school population were 95% for both English and Maths.
• For Key Stage 2 assessments, 34% and 37% of eligible children attained Level 4 or above, in English and Maths respectively. General school population figures were 80% and 81% respectively.
• At Key Stage 3, over one quarter of children eligible to be tested achieved Level 5 or above, in English (27%) and in Maths (27%). For the general school population the equivalent figures were 83% and 81% respectively.
• In 2008/09, 61% of looked after children attained at least one GCSE/GNVQ at grades A* to G, an increase of 11 percentage points from 2007/08. This compared with 99% of the general school population and 68% of looked after children in England.
• Just under one in ten (9%) children aged 10 & over had been cautioned or convicted of an offence whilst in care during the year ending 30 September 2009.

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 Health and Social Services Trusts during the period January 2010 to June 2010.

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: cib@dhsspsni.gov.uk

Internet:

4. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.