Life chances of teenage mothers and their children threatened by barriers to education, Barnardo's survey finds

Teenage mothers are being thrown on the career scrap heap because they face so many barriers in getting back into school, the children's charity Barnardo's says.

Young women are often left out of school on "spurious health and safety grounds" and feel pressured by their schools not to come back after having had a baby, says the charity.

In a report published today, "Not the End of the Story", Barnardo's highlights truancy, bullying and difficulties at school as common experiences for teenage mothers, with few schools showing enough support or flexibility.

Many abandon career ambitions and resign themselves to a low-income lifestyle; 70% of young mothers are not in education, employment or training, compared with about 10% of 16-to-18-year-olds generally.

Dr Jane Evans, co-author of the report, said that if mothers under 18 dropped out of education or training it had an impact "not just on their own future prospects, but on the life chances of their child". Schools had to do all they could to help.

The report's recommendations include assessing teenagers' learning needs as soon as they see a midwife, and allowing them to leave education only with a certified exemption from a doctor.

Barnardo's interviewed 38 mothers aged 13 to 20 attending their services.