Thurrock leading the way for children in care going on to higher education and employment

THURROCK has been rated “very good” regarding the number of children in care at 16 who are still in education, employment or training by age 19.

Speaking at a full council meeting last night, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor MacPherson was responding to a question from Coun Charles Curtis.

He asked about the number of children in care who progressed to further and higher education in the last five years.

Coun MacPherson said: “Because young people can move in and out of further education and care, it is difficult to produce accurate figures for the last five years without possible double counting.”

But she said that according to the latest Government performance indicators in March this year, Thurrock is in the “very good” band when compared with other authorities.”

She told the council that 19 children in the council’s care who are under 18 attend college; a further 30 children are in higher or further education, with ten currently at university and three pursuing Masters’ degrees.

There are also 17 children who are continuing their further education studies with many scheduled to progress to university next year.

Coun MacPherson added: “I would like to offer my congratulations - and the congratulations of the whole council - to all of these children, they’ve done tremendously well.”