ASYLUM-SEEKING children leaving social services' care are far outperforming local teenagers when they leave school, a new report has revealed.
Figures published by the council show that, as of last October, 90 per cent of the hundreds of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) aged 18 to 20 were in education, employment or training, compared with 53 per cent of their indigenous equivalents.
A report, discussed by the council's corporate parenting panel this week, said more needed to be done to focus on care leavers who were not in education, employment or training (Neet).
Councillor Tim Pollard, cabinet member for learning, said the figures highlight the marked difference in backgrounds between asylum seekers and local children, and said many UASCs could, in fact, be described as "economic migrants".
"Almost all the asylum seekers who come here do so with the very strong encouragement of the communities back home to take advantage of all the opportunities the British education system can give them," he said.
"They come over here with a very different mindset from some of our indigenous children who had very difficult lives, often in very abusive households, and they tend to have come to the attention of the care system because they are underachieving and not doing well at school.
"Therefore you can't be surprised if their attainment is low or that the difference between the two groups is stark."
Data from March 2013 onwards shows an upward trend in the number of UASCs studying, being trained or in work, with just 38 of the 364, 18-to-20 year-olds, classed as not in education, employment or training.
In comparison, there was a downward trend among indigenous leavers of the same age, with 63 out of 120 not accessing opportunities. Underachievement is particularly acute among those who enter the care system at a relatively late stage.
Directly comparable figures for the wider population are not available, but to give some context, in September last year 20.1 per cent of 19 to 24-year-olds in England were classed as Neet.
The report, discussed by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday, said: "It is evident we need to focus much more on care leavers in the Neet category."
Young people leaving care have access to a range of support, including a grant of £1,000, a bursary of £1,200 per year for 16 to 19-year-olds remaining in education, fares to work until earning wages, £100 for work and interview clothes as well as help finding accommodation.
Of the 149 local children in the council's leaving care service in 2012/13, 65 were in education, employment or training, of whom 13 were studying for a degree, compared with 30 UASCs.
The council commissioned a consultancy firm to undertake a small pilot project between July and December last year designed to help local care leavers into work or education.
Of the 12 that were referred, only four have accessed work or training.
Work to address the issue is also being undertaken at the Turnaround Centre in South End which is helping young people access Catch22's new Route to Work programme, which provides apprenticeships.
The report also says the leaving care service is working closely with Jobcentre Plus to ensure care leavers on benefits have access to the support they need.
"This should see a huge change in the life opportunities of care leavers and will enhance life outcomes," the report added.
