The Educational Expectation of Looked after Children

Abstract

Until recently, educational issues for looked after children have been a largely neglected area of research. The current study by Amber Elliott aimed to investigate one factor that may contribute to the under-achievement of children in care. A group of high school teachers were selected to participate in the study to examine whether there were differences in teacher expectations of looked after children and their peers, as measured on seven educational factors. Participants were divided randomly into two groups and given one of two questionnaires. One asked about children with whom the teacher generally had contact, the other asked specifically about looked after children. There was found to be a significant difference in teacher expectations on questions measuring the likelihood of handing in homework consistently and the propensity to be the victim of bullying. Teachers did not have significantly different expectations of looked after children and non-looked after children on three other measures of behaviour: academic performance, attendance and being the perpetrator of bullying behaviour.