Courtney Hodgson is in his second year at Newcastle University and has hopes of becoming a secondary school teacher.

It might seem there’s nothing particularly remarkable about such an achievement. After all, admission figures show that almost 50% of young people today aim for a university education.

But among young people who have been in care the percentage going into higher education is much smaller – less than 10%. In fact, statistics show that looked-after children tend to fare less well at every educational level.

However, Courtney, 20, a former Greenhead College student, says that the support of his Kirklees foster parents, Jane and Andrew Bottomley, who raised him from the age of 12, has been one of the keys to his success.

He is one of more than 50 children the Cleckheaton couple have fostered for Kirklees Council, on both a long-term and short-term basis, since 2000.

Courtney is testament to what a stable family environment can help to achieve.

Statistically, looked-after children are more likely to leave school without qualifications and less likely to go on to higher education than other children.

In fact Department for Education figures show that in 2012 only 14% of looked-after children achieved five good GCSEs compared to nearly 60% of non looked-after teenagers. One fifth of children who have been in care leave school with no qualifications at all.

This difference in educational attainment is reflected in statistics for higher education – nearly half of non looked-after children go to university compared to only 7% of those who have spend a year or more in care.

With increasing numbers of children being taken into care there is an ongoing mission to find foster carers who can make a difference to some of the area’s most vulnerable youngsters.

Latest figures from Kirklees Council’s fostering team reveal that it approved 51 new carers during 2012-13, its highest number yet. But more are needed.

Jane and Andrew, who are both in their forties and have three children of their own, are also involved with the Kirklees Fostering Network, a support group for existing, new and potential fosterers. They stress that becoming a fosterer means joining a caring community.

“It is a bit like one big family, so you never feel on your own,” said Jane.

The couple have a family-run farm machinery business and are currently caring for three foster children and two former foster children – including Courtney, who lives with them when he’s home from Newcastle.

Jane says theirs is a busy but “calm and happy home.”

She explained: “Many of the children we’ve looked after have come to us from troubled backgrounds, and have been in desperate need of some normality. Whether a child comes to us for one week, one month or one year, it’s important to make that child feel settled and secure. Only then can they begin to feel more grounded and open up to you, and I’ve been able to see first-hand the positive impact this has had.”

Foster children are included in all the family’s activities. Foster dad Andrew takes his extended family on excursions in a camper van and to stock car racing events at weekends. Described as a “natural performer” by Jane, he also DJs at KFN fund-raising events and recently established a support group for male foster carers.

Andrew says fostering has been a positive force in their lives. He explained: “From the outset we were always much like any other family, going on holiday, making sure homework gets done, or helping out with household chores.

“Our three daughters were also very hands on with our foster children, which is something that has shaped their lives into adulthood, as they have all chosen various careers within the care professions.

“Foster caring has definitely been – and continues to be – a learning process for us all. Every child brings a new set of challenges and although there are no quick fixes, there is a lot of support for foster families in Kirklees. It’s also humbling to see the benefits that foster caring can bring. Courtney is just one example of this and it’s heartening to see how you can play a part in helping to shape and nurture a person’s future.”

Fostering with a local authority ensures that children are looked after in their home town or city, often allowing them to remain in their own school and provide stability at a time of immense change.

Foster carers come from all ages and backgrounds – single, male, gay, lesbian, bisexual, married or cohabiting. They can be divorced or widowed, with or without children of their own, a home-owner or renting, employed, retired or on benefits, with or without childcare experience or qualifications.

According to the NSPCC there are 90,000 children in care at any one time in the UK. Many have been subject to abuse and neglect and 45% of them have a diagnosable mental health condition. There is a nationwide shortage of foster parents.

If you are interested in joining Jane and Andrew as a foster carer then visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/fostering or call 0800 389 0086.