SNP oversees worsening outcomes for looked-after children

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie has today accused the Scottish Government of letting down care-experienced children after statistics showed worsening outcomes on attendance, attainment and leaver destinations.

The Education Outcomes for Looked After Children 2023-24 statistics showed:

• The attendance rate for looked-after children falling from 84.4% in 2022/23 to 83.7% in 2023-24, significantly lower than 90.4% amongst all school leavers.
• 27.6% of looked-after school leavers without a qualification at SCQF level 4 or better, compared to 4.8% of all school leavers in 2023-24. This was up from 24.3% in the previous year.
• 14.7% of looked-after school leavers were not in a positive initial destination, compared to 4.3% of all school leavers. This was an increase from 13.6% in 2022/23.

Willie Rennie said:

“These statistics should be an alarm bell for ministers. The Scottish Government made a major commitment to care-experienced children and young people when they set up the Promise, but the figures published today show worsening outcomes across a range of measures. Looked-after children and young people also face daunting attainment gaps which have shown no sign of being closed in recent years.

“Care-experienced young people deserve the chance to succeed like everyone else but that won’t be achieved without renewed effort from the government.

“Ministers need to get on top of the crisis in social work and end the scandal of children being passed from one social worker to another while they and those around them cry out for greater support. The must also address the wider challenges in the education system including violence and behaviour in schools, lack of additional support needs provision, and the teacher workforce crisis to give teachers and staff the opportunity to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable.”