The charity’s latest report, Open Doors, Open Minds, claims that despite significant improvements in legislation and statutory guidance, the culture and practice within the care system does not consistently support children in care and care leavers to achieve in education.
Based on interviews, focus groups and surveys of more than 300 professionals and young people, the report found that while schemes such as the pupil premium, 16 to 19 Bursary and new tuition fee arrangements offer more financial support to children in care, implementation has been left to local bodies, leaving a "postcode lottery" of support.
Natasha Finlayson, chief executive of The Who Cares? Trust, said: "The government has brought in a range of policies that aim to help open up opportunities for these young people, but unfortunately a misplaced determination to leave everything to individual schools, colleges and universities has undermined their efforts, exacerbated the postcode lottery of care and created new barriers to learning.
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