Leading article: Children in care deserve better

Leading article: Children in care deserve better

The Government is right to give top priority to improving the lot of children in care in this week's Green Paper. The record of previous governments on this issue has been appalling. We sympathise with Sarah Teather, the Liberal Democrats' education spokeswoman, who said that it was "scandalous" that we had to wait until almost 10 years into a Labour government to hear some of the measures advanced earlier this week.

It looks as though the proposals are very much those of Alan Johnson, the Education Secretary, who clearly identifies with the needs of children in care, having narrowly escaped being one himself. Some of the measures in the Green Paper are innovative: offering university bursaries of £2,000 to encourage more "looked-after" young people into higher education; having a "virtual head teacher" in every local authority responsible for the education of children in care; and ensuring that no school can reject a child in care simply on the grounds that it is oversubscribed.

Looking beyond education, it is clearly a good idea to give children in care the right to remain with their foster parents until they are 21, backed up with financial support for the foster parents themselves. This must be an improvement on making youngsters fend for themselves after the age of 16. Other proposals, on the other hand, need more scrutiny before it is clear that they will work. The idea of putting the onus on local authorities to ensure that children in care are placed in the "best" schools raises the question: which are the best schools? The ones with the best exam results? It could be argued that a school with a good value-added record or outstanding support systems for struggling children would be a better option than an academic hothouse for a youngster in care. "Best" might not be the right word to use in legislation because of the various constructions that can be put on its meaning.

Having said that, we note the Education Secretary's hope that other ideas to improve the lot of children in care will emerge from professionals during consultation on the Green Paper. Let us hope that the consultative process will indeed build on this initiative to ensure a better deal for our most vulnerable young people.

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university | studying languages | wrestling | Elisa di Rivombrosa | LECCE | business | Language course in Italy to learn to speak Italian language | Boarding schools: Tom Brown's schooldays no more | It might seem unlikely, but demand for places at state boarding schools is growing says Hilary Wilce | Sending children to boarding school remains a popular option for many parents, despite the fact that fees have risen by 40 per cent over the past five years, and that average annual boarding fees are now almost £20,000, twice the average cost of a private day-school place. | The number of pupils who board has steadied over the past six years, and has even risen slightly this year, from 68,255 to 68,409. This is mainly due to a small rise in students coming from overseas, especially other European countries. "China is down and Hong Kong is down," says Hilary Moriarty, director of the Boarding Schools' Association (BSA). "But we are seeing more pupils coming from France and Spain, for example." Europeans are attracted by the fact that more schools offer the International Baccalaureate, and that boarding offers students the chance to immerse themselves in British life. | In addition, the Government is showing a new interest in boarding. "They have clearly realised that it has a lot to offer," says John Baugh, head master of the Dragon School, Oxford, and chairman of the BSA. | The 36 state boarding schools in England and Wales can bid for money from a £5m pot, announced last year, to update their boarding facilities, and the Government is exploring whether boarding, at either state or independent schools, might be good for vulnerable children. | This sustained interest reflects how boarding has become a far more attractive option for both children and busy parents. "Gone are the days of barrack-like dormitories. These days, there are more likely to be four in a room than 24, and many older pupils will have single-study accommodation with en-suite bathrooms," says Moriarty. "There's also more warmth than there used to be between staff and pupils, and much more home access. Plus, of course, there's e-mail and texting. The days of feeling that you've sent your child away have definitely gone." | At Haileybury, in Hertfordshire, the number of boarders has grown steadily over the past seven years, thanks to comfortable living conditions, good food, and a more flexible regime. | "Pupils are allowed home after games on Saturday, provided they are back by 8.45pm on Sunday, and that has been a major factor behind the increase in day-pupils opting for boarding," says Stuart Westley, the school's Master. "We have a lot of evening activities during the week, and they like being with friends." | Frances King, the headmistress of Heathfield St Mary's School, in Wantage and Ascot, a girls' school recently formed from the merger of two schools, says that boarding schools can also offer a wide variety of experiences. "My girls say that they like not having to wear make-up to breakfast, or worry about tensions in the classroom, and that they make deep friendships here. | "And when I ask 13-year-old girls from co-ed prep schools why they want to come here, they often say, in a world-weary way, that they're fed up with boys and want some space. And there are boys who need space from the girls, too!" | Boarding schools can offer children a chance to grow up within a community of strong traditions and values. At Stonyhurst College, in Lancashire, the number of boys and girls choosing to board has risen by 8.5 per cent this year. Jonathan Hewat, the marketing manager at the school, says that this is partly to do with improved dormitories and the attractions of weekly boarding, but also to "our distinct feeling of community. We're a Jesuit college and our aim is to find God in all things. Our children come from many different backgrounds, but we are very keen that they all find and use their talents. Every child is nurtured, and we do a lot of charity work, driven by pupils. Twenty-five per cent of our pupils come from London and the South-east, and parents are willing to drive for four hours up the M6 to a northern boarding school because of what we offer." "Schools now provide their own variety of boarding, whether full or weekly, or just sleep-over stays," says Baugh. "Some parents are traditional boarding parents, who often make great sacrifices to give their children the experience. | "Others might be new to boarding, but realise that it provides an excellent alternative to having a nanny ferrying their children around after school from one activity to another."