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Schools to help children in care Schools to help children in care
(about 1 hour later)
Children in care could receive help from a "virtual head teacher" under plans to boost their opportunities.Children in care could receive help from a "virtual head teacher" under plans to boost their opportunities.
A White Paper published on Thursday is expected to say the heads could oversee children's progress. A White Paper published later is expected to say the heads could oversee children's progress.
Other proposals include making schools give places to children in care, even if they are full, and providing bursaries of £2,000 for university.Other proposals include making schools give places to children in care, even if they are full, and providing bursaries of £2,000 for university.
It is also expected to propose salaries for foster parents and the right for children to stay in care after 16.
The government has committed itself to improving the educational prospects of children in care, a group largely seen as being failed by the system.
Teenage pregnancies
Only 11% of children in care currently get five good GCSEs, compared with 56% in England as a whole.Only 11% of children in care currently get five good GCSEs, compared with 56% in England as a whole.
The government has committed itself to improving the life chances of children in care, a group largely seen as being failed by the system. Young women aged 15 to 17 who have been in care are three times more likely to become teenage mothers than others their age, the government says.
Young women aged 15-17 who have been in care are three times more likely to become teenage mothers than others of their age, the government says. By the age of 19, they are more than twice as likely not to be in education, employment and training, official figures show.
And more than 30% of people leaving care are not in education, employment or training at age 19 compared to 13% of all young people And almost one in three adult prisoners have spent time in care, research suggests.
Almost one in three adult prisoners have spent time in care, research suggests. Education Secretary Alan Johnson is due to outline the White Paper's proposals in the Commons, but it is thought they will not differ much from the Green Paper published in the autumn.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson will outline the White Paper's proposals in the Commons on Thursday, but it is thought they will not differ much from the Green Paper published in the autumn.
Those proposals included:Those proposals included:
  • 'Virtual head teacher' to track progress
  • Access to the best schools
  • Catch-up help in school
  • Free transport to school
  • £2,000 bursary for university
  • Fewer placements
  • Stay in foster care until at least 18
  • No school moves for children in Years 10 and 11
  • 'Councils' formed for children in care
  • 'Virtual head teacher' to track progress
  • Access to the best schools
  • Catch-up help in school
  • Free transport to school
  • £2,000 bursary for university
  • Fewer placements
  • Stay in foster care until at least 18
  • No school moves for children in Years 10 and 11
  • 'Councils' formed for children in care
Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast: "More likely to end up in prison, more likely to become homeless, more likely to be a young offender. How can we can change it is by putting it at the top of our priorities and making sure we are working together.Mr Johnson told BBC Breakfast: "More likely to end up in prison, more likely to become homeless, more likely to be a young offender. How can we can change it is by putting it at the top of our priorities and making sure we are working together.
"The problem has been from our wide consultation, is that they are allowed to slip into care too easily, moved around too much and then pushed out too soon."The problem has been from our wide consultation, is that they are allowed to slip into care too easily, moved around too much and then pushed out too soon.
"If there is one word which can sum up what these children need in their lives, that is stability.""If there is one word which can sum up what these children need in their lives, that is stability."
At the moment, there are about 61,000 children in care in England, 69% of whom are fostered.At the moment, there are about 61,000 children in care in England, 69% of whom are fostered.
A key part of the package would be allowing young people to stay with foster parents until they were 18 at least. At the moment, children leave care at 16.