Oldham councillors were today due to hear how the council plans to improve the educational achievement of children its care after a poor performance in last year's Government league tables.

Nationally young people in care do poorly at school and the Government has set targets for improvements.

But last year in Oldham only nine per cent of looked-after children in the Borough achieved at least one GCSE compared to a Government target of 50 per cent.

Members of Oldham's social services committee were today due to be told that it was the duty of a local authority to promote the educational attainment of young people in public care in its roles as "corporate parent".

The the social services and education departments are now developing joint initiatives to improve exam passes of children in care.

The measures already in place include managers from both departments meeting regularly to discuss better provision and consider strategic issues.

The Council now has a database of all looked-after children and is able to inform schools which children are in public care.

Each school has a nominated teacher responsible for looked-after children. The school also receives a grant to meet any additional needs.

A teacher and a social services education development worker have formed a unit to work together on these initiatives and make sure that issues are met.

Chair of social services committee Councillor Elaine Joynes said the speed with which both departments had worked in setting up these special arrangements was very encouraging.

"This issue is extremely important to the council and we intend to give it our full commitment to ensure that looked-after children in the Borough are given much better opportunities in the future," she said.