The attainment gap between looked-after children and their peers has begun widening again in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, a think tank has warned.
The Education Policy Institute said a trend seen up until 2019 which closed the gap has now been reversed, at a time when more children are experiencing social care.
Analysis by the organisation found 12.7 per cent of pupils who were in year 11 in 2021 had experienced social care at some point in the previous six years, up from 10.7 pupils in 2014.
In 2021, 2.2 per cent of pupils were classified as children in need with a child protection plan, up from 0.6 per cent in 2014.
