Abstract
There are over 6,000 children in out-of-home care in Ireland. Children are placed in care for different reasons which may include being exposed to abuse and/or neglect, the death of a parent, or a parent having a serious long-term illness or addiction which leaves them unable to care for their child. International evidence highlights the importance of education for long-term well-being, and this is particularly true for children and young people in care. While some young people in care do well in education, many (a majority) fare less well, achieving less, and leaving education earlier. There are complex reasons for this, including the effects of earlier disadvantage and stress. These may lead to lower confidence or aspirations, and lower expectations on the part of others. In this paper, we outline key findings about the educational attainment of children and young people in care as identified by national and international research on this topic. We conclude the paper by highlighting areas requiring further investigation, while noting some implications for practitioners, policy-makers, and researchers working in this area.