TACT’s Education Service has produced their annual report for 2024-2025 academic year, and it has highlighted some wonderful achievements and successes – with many grades and results surpassing national averages for children in care.

The service offered many sessions to TACT young people regarding Post-16 options, exam revision and managing stress. They also launched the Apprenticeship Academy, and delivered Bitesize sessions for Connect members in a variety of careers, employability and education topics.

The Education service has provided a suite of training across the year to foster carers, staff and schools, including trauma-informed education, Wales Additional Learning Needs, Secondary Trauma & Resilience, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Anti-Racism.

Young people’s educational achievements have surpassed all expectations.

In England, TACT had 13 children who took a year 1 phonics check in the 2024 Summer term. Eight passed, with 6 of those gaining very high marks and 2 gaining full marks. Of the 5 children who did not pass, 3 were very close. All of these children have since been provided with a PhonicsPlay subscription and foster carers have been contacted by the England Advisory teacher to offer some advice and support.

For a Year 14 multiplication check over the 2024 summer term, there were 18 children with recorded scores. 9 achieved full marks, with 13 in total scoring 22 or more out of 25 – bettering the 2024 national average. Those who did not pass were given free access to Times Table Rockstars, an online programme to practice multiplication tables.

Children who took their Key Stage 2 SATs achieved reading scores exceeding the national average, which was excellent news.

Of the young people who took their GCSEs:

• 22.7% achieved a grade 4 (a pass) or above in both English and Maths. The national figure for children in care in Summer 2024 was 18.1%
• 50% achieved at least 5 GCSE grades 1-9
• 36.4% achieved at least 5 GCSE grades 4-9
• 31.8% achieved at least 5 GCSE grades 5-9

In Wales, GCSE results were a wonderful reflection of the hard work undertaken by young people:

• 25% achieved at least 5 grades A-C
• 50% passed both English and Maths
• 25% achieved a good pass in Science

Scotland’s Higher 5 results saw young people gaining more passes (A-C) than D grades. TACT were proud to hear that 2 young people got the grades they needed for university; one passed their access course and is going on to study Adult Nursing, and the other achieved BBC A Level grades and took up their place to study Law.

TACT would like to congratulate all our young people on some wonderful achievements, where resilience and determination have truly paid off. These successes reflect not only individual talent, but also the hard work, perseverance, and positive support across TACT that continues to help our young people thrive.