Publication of ‘Children in Care in Northern Ireland 2009/10 Statistical Bulletin’

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has today published ‘Children in Care in Northern Ireland 2009/10 Statistical Bulletin’.
~ Friday, 3 February 2012

This bulletin presents results from the latest survey of children and young people looked after continuously for 12 months or longer at 30 September 2010. The main findings detail educational achievements in Key Stage Assessments, and in GCSE/GNVQ examinations. Analyses include those by age and gender, religion, disability, length of time in care, placement type, offences and convictions, and health assessments completed. Survey information was gathered from each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Results from the latest survey indicate that between 2006 and 2010, educational attainment of looked after children in Northern Ireland continues to improve in some areas and has remained static in others.

Overall, looked after children in Northern Ireland continue to do less well when compared to their peers in the general school population and to looked after children in England.

Key Findings

• At 30 September 2010, 1,675 children and young people had been looked after continuously for 12 months or longer; of these, 54% were boys and 46% were girls; 96% were white, and 14% were disabled;
• Over three quarters (77%) of children were of school age, 24% of whom had a statement of Special Educational Need (4% for the general school population), 1% had a permanent exclusion from school, 10% had been suspended from school, and 12% had missed at least 25 school days within the relevant school year;
• From 2005/06 to 2009/10, the proportion of eligible looked after children attaining Key Stage 1 Level 2 or above increased by 5 percentage points in both English and Maths, to 60% and 63% respectively. During 2009/10, equivalent figures for the general school population were 95% for both English and Maths;
• For Key Stage 2 assessments, 38% and 31% of eligible children attained Level 4 or above, in English and Maths during 2009/10, compared with 24% and 21% respectively in 2005/06. General school population figures for 2009/10 were 80% for English and 81% for Maths. In the four years from 2005/06 to 2009/10, the proportions of looked after children achieving this standard, have increased by 14 percentage points for English and by 10 percentage points for Maths;
• At Key Stage 3, one quarter of children eligible to be tested achieved Level 5 or above in English (25%) and in Maths (25%), compared with 24% and 22% in 2005/06, respectively;
• In 2009/10, 64% of looked after children attained at least one GCSE/GNVQ at grades A* to G, an increase of 3 percentage points from 2008/09; this compared with 99% of the general school population, and 68% of looked after children in England;
• Just below one in ten (9%) children aged 10 or over had been cautioned or convicted of an offence whilst in care during the year ending 30 September 2010.

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 September 2010 to November 2011.

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 520599
Fax: (028) 90 523288
E-mail: cib@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Internet: http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-cib/statistics_and_research-cib-pub.htm

4. Media enquiries about this press release to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.