Children in care denied good schools, say MPs

23 Nov 06
Children's minister Beverley Hughes this week came under fire from MPs concerned that greater independence for schools undermines the chances of children in care.

24 November 2006

Children's minister Beverley Hughes this week came under fire from MPs concerned that greater independence for schools undermines the chances of children in care.

Labour education and skills select committee acting chair Helen Jones queried why local authorities still could not compel a city academy to admit a child in care, even though authorities were obliged to ensure such children went to the best schools.

Jones asked: 'The government wants more and more academies, so how are you going to make sure children in care get into good schools?'

Although Hughes conceded that children in care 'tended to be in badly performing schools', she said giving local authorities the same power to compel admissions to academies as they had over other schools was 'not an issue. They are taking children whether they are in care or not.'

But Jones argued that the Department for Education and Skill's own data suggested otherwise, as it showed that academies were taking in significant numbers of pupils from outside the poor areas they had been set up to serve.

Of the 17 city academies open by January 2005, eight had more than a third of pupils living outside the ward or neighbouring wards in which the school was located.

Greig City Academy in Haringey and the Capital City Academy in Brent – both in north London – had the highest proportion of enrolled pupils living outside its immediate area, at 80% and 53% respectively. The average proportion was 32%.

Jones told Public Finance: 'The government says these figures show the academies are popular, but they were set up with the express intention of providing good education in poor areas.

'If they're taking children from outside their local area, you have to question whether they are fulfilling that intention.'

She added: 'If the government insists there is not an issue with children in care and that the academies are happy to admit them anyway, why not make it a duty, as that shouldn't then make any difference to them?'

Jones said the committee was concerned that schools and authorities currently had very low expectations for children in care and so they were not directed to the best schools.

PFnov2006

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top