About 1% of Scotland's youngsters are in care

Scottish Executive statistics showed that almost 13,000 youngsters, or 1% of youths in Scotland, were looked after by councils.

But about half of these still live with their parents or a family member.

The executive said the rise was due to more awareness of problems faced by young people. The report also said care children received a poor education.

The figures were published on the same day as a study which showed a record number of youngsters had been referred to children's panels.

Foster parents

Of those being cared for by local authorities, 7,232 lived with parents or family while 3,731 lived with foster parents.

Council-run care homes looked after 737 schoolchildren and 663 stayed in residential schools.

On education, the report showed an 8% rise in the numbers passing at least one Standard Grade.

The number gaining qualifications in English and Maths has increased from 28% to 34%.

However, it said two in three young people in care left school with no job, training or college place planned.

The executive said more needed to be done to ensure this group reached its potential.

Too many looked after children are not fulfilling their academic potential Robert Brown Deputy Education Minister

Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said: "Too many looked after children are not fulfilling their academic potential.

"That's why we have invested resources and focused so strongly on their educational needs in the last few years."

Hugh Mackintosh, Scotland director for charity Barnardo's, said: "What is of real concern is that the proportion of care leavers who are not in employment, education or training has increased to 63%, which compares with 17% in the general population."

Councillor Charles Gray, education spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, said there was "a long way to go".

"Our challenge is to make sure our services are person-centred and we are working to strengthen our role as corporate parents so that we can help children in our care to fulfil their potential and become happy, effective contributors to our communities," he said.

Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish National Party education spokeswoman, said: "We now have record levels of children in care which Mr McConnell's administration has failed to adequately provide support for.

"It is simply not acceptable that two in three young people in care leave school with no job, training or college place."