A CENTRE which could improve education for foster children has been opened in Oxford by the Children’s Minister Edward Timpson.

The MP launched The Rees Centre, Oxford University’s centre for research in fostering and education yesterday.

The centre will examine how policy makers and agencies can improve life for children and young people in care. Mr Timpson said: “Foster carers make a massive difference to the lives of vulnerable children by helping to give them a loving and caring home and the much needed stability for them to succeed at school.

“We need to know what works and why, so that we can give more children in care a better chance to succeed.”

Joanne Griffin, 22, from Abingdon, went into care when she was eight because of issues at home.

She said foster children often suffered at school if they were forced to move around a lot.

She said: “I think it definitely affects your education, especially if you’re having to move further away from schools and having to go to different schools.

“I think they’re going to try to help to minimise that.”