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Going to University from Care

Going to University from Care. Sonia Jackson Thomas Coram Research Unit Institute of Education University of London. I would advise anyone to go to university. It’s fun for starters… It just broadens your horizons – opens your eyes to what’s going on around you

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Going to University from Care

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  1. Going to University from Care Sonia Jackson Thomas Coram Research Unit Institute of Education University of London

  2. I would advise anyone to go to university. It’s fun for starters… • It just broadens your horizons – opens your eyes to what’s going on around you • It gave me a different perspective on my life ACWASydney14.08.06

  3. Three questions • Why do so few children in care go to university? • Why does it matter? • What can the By Degrees research tell us about what helps and what gets in the way? ACWASydney14.08.06

  4. Outcomes in and after care • 50% not in education, training or employment aged 19. • 80% unemployed 2 years after leaving care • 70% have mental health problems • 30% homeless and 50% young offenders have been in care • High level of substance misuse/addictions • Early parenthood at least 3 times more likely ACWASydney14.08.06

  5. Wider benefits of learning Each step up the educational ladder leads to improvements in quality of adult life • lifelong learning • resilience • self-efficacy • mental and physical health • family and parenting • civic engagement • respect for law • absence of addiction Evidence from British Birth Cohort Studies ACWASydney14.08.06

  6. Educational attainment of Looked After Children in England 2005 In care All children 1 GCSE A-G 60% 96% 5 GCSEs A-G 41% 89% 5 GCSEs A*-C 9% 56% Further education18% 78% University 1% 43% ACWASydney14.08.06

  7. The UK Policy Context • 1998 Quality Protects • 2000 Joint Ed/Dept of Health Guidance • 2001 Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 • 2003 Social Exclusion Report ‘A Better Education for Children in Care’ • 2004 Children Act • 2005 Children’s Services Departments report to Dept. for Education and Skills ACWASydney14.08.06

  8. The ‘By Degrees’ Project- from Care to University • Three cohorts tracked over four years • Total research sample: 129 students • Surveys of local authorities and HEIs ACWASydney14.08.06

  9. Aims of the project • Increase participation • Improve retention and completion • Help LAs fulfil obligations as corporate parents • Raise awareness among higher education institutions • Use findings to influence policy and practice ACWASydney14.08.06

  10. Reasons for care ACWASydney14.08.06

  11. Participants: ethnicity ACWASydney14.08.06

  12. Outcomes after one year ACWASydney14.08.06

  13. What have we learnt? • Children in care can go to university and succeed • Participants attended 68 different HEIs • Low drop-out if adequate support • Stable foster care is a key resource • Residential care doesn’t help • Care leavers must have legal right to financial help and advice ACWASydney14.08.06

  14. Some recommendations • Placements shd offer educational environment • Planning for uni must start early • Specialist foster carers for education • Written contracts for students Extended foster and residential care • Widening participation initiatives target LAC and care leavers ACWASydney14.08.06

  15. Where are we one year after the project ended? • 6% care leavers now going to university • Project team produced advice booklets for practitioners and young people (Who Cares? Trust) • Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for higher education institutions launched June 2006 • Tick box to be introduced on university application form • Government makes education top priority in new strategy for children in out-of-home care ACWASydney14.08.06

  16. ‘By Degrees’ at the House of Lords ACWASydney14.08.06

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