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Let us learn: systemic inquiry into the educational experiences of children and young people living in out-of-home care
All children have the right to an education that supports them to reach their full potential. For children and young people living in out-of-home care, education enables learning and development, creates opportunities for positive interactions with peers and teachers and contributes to much-needed stability and consistency. School should always be a safe and supportive place for all students, but this is especially important for children and young people in out-of-home care as they can particularly benefit from the support and encouragement it offers. However, children and young people in care face significant barriers that affect their educational outcomes and ability to stay engaged in education. These barriers exist both at home and at school.
This inquiry examines the educational experiences of children and young people living in care. It reveals that, on every measure, students in care are not engaged in education in the same way as their peers and many are not reaching their potential.
Key findings:
- Children and young people in care are experiencing substantially higher rates of disengagement from school compared to their peers. In 2022, secondary school students in care experienced on average eight per cent lower attendance rates and 64 per cent experienced chronic absence.
- Students in out-of-home care have a 25 per cent lower participation rate in the Australia wide assessment known as the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). Those who do participate in NAPLAN receive substantially lower NAPLAN results across all year levels and in each NAPLAN domain, including numeracy, reading and writing.
- Only a quarter of students in care progress from year 10 to year 12 compared to over 80 per cent of students in the general population.
- Students in care were five times more likely to be suspended from school than students in the general student population from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, students in care were five times more likely to be expelled from school than the broader student population.
