‘Shocking’ numbers of children in care being moved during exams

‘Shocking’ numbers of children are being moved — between homes, schools, or out of care altogether — in the lead up to and even during exams and sometimes without any notice.

The data was obtained from FOI requests sent to all 153 tier-one local authorities in England for information for the school year 2023/24, with 124 local authorities (81%) responding.

Data showed that around one in three children (30%) were moved or had to leave care during their A-level exam period, while 13% were moved during their GCSE exam period.

Further research from children’s charity Become with some young people impacted found this educational instability meant they had missed coursework, dropped subjects, or disrupted exam preparation.

Others said they lost touch with friends, teachers, support workers, and sometimes even siblings. They also said the moves had damaged their mental health and wellbeing.

“I had six moves during my A level year, four placement moves and two going into respite because my foster carer went on holiday,” Charlotte Levy, a young campaigner said.

“It was Covid at the time and we were being assessed on our coursework and mock exam results we were doing in that year. But throughout that year I had constant disruption. I was moving not achieving.”

The research also highlighted the distance children moved could further intensify isolation and loneliness, affecting their ability to do well at school. 16% of children in care were moved more than 20 miles during years 10 and 11; and nearly 1 in 10 (9%) were moved more than 20 miles in years 12 and 13.

Become is now calling on the Government to ensure that no child is moved during GCSE and A-Level years—unless in exceptional circumstances. They also want to see schools and colleges better equipped to support children in care who face instability.

“Moving disrupts any child's education, but for children in care, school is often their lifeline – and can be the one constant in their life,” Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of Become, says. “When they're uprooted mid-way through studying for their GCSEs or A-levels, or actually during exam periods, years of hard work vanish overnight. Friendships end. Teachers disappear. It's devastating, completely avoidable and can have a lifelong impact.

“The Government must act now. We need the right homes in the right places for children in care and a proper safety net of support for care leavers. Only then will these children have a fair chance of doing well in school.”