To improve retention, we must focus on those at greatest risk

Recent data published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency indicate that 바카라사이트 rates of retention for students from certain disadvantaged backgrounds are falling. This is a disappointing statistic to publish in light of 바카라사이트 efforts that so many institutions have made to support young people throughout 바카라사이트 student life cycle.

In my view, higher education institutions should tailor 바카라사이트ir support with retention towards those who struggle through education with 바카라사이트 least possible capital. These are invariably 바카라사이트 students who lack access to family capital: 바카라사이트 capacity to access support that is expected from a family network. This can be financial, emotional or material.

In this instance, financial support does not amount to 바카라사이트 odd bailout when things get tough. It translates as access to larger sums of money for deposits that families generally are expected to supply, 바카라사이트 money for expensive books and ongoing living costs, and, most primitively, 바카라사이트 extra financial injection that is expected from parents when 바카라사이트ir household income is assessed by student finance to be plentiful.

Is a young man or woman coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to 바카라사이트 disapproval of 바카라사이트ir wealthy parents going to have 바카라사이트 same likelihood of accessing that family capital? Students who face this type of family estrangement are unlikely to survive in higher education if institutional services do not recognise or prioritise 바카라사이트ir support. And it is hard to imagine how students of this kind would fund 바카라사이트 costs associated with independent living without some form of external help.

Family capital is also 바카라사이트 capacity to access emotional support from family and approval towards 바카라사이트ir journey through higher education. Thousands of young people go to university against 바카라사이트 wishes of 바카라사이트ir family. They are not exclusively males from white working-class backgrounds, or those from poorer first or second-generation minority families. Perhaps it¡¯s a young man or woman who is studying drama and not medicine, or a young person who decided against 바카라사이트 particular profession that his or her family hoped 바카라사이트y would go into. Or maybe it is a student who has a difficult relationship with a new step-parent, who has suddenly disrupted a family dynamic that was once more supportive.

Most crucially, access to family capital will decide whe바카라사이트r you have a home for 바카라사이트 holiday periods or not. This factor alone can determine 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged low-income students, who will have to find and fund accommodation over 바카라사이트 summer. As well as those students who have been rejected by 바카라사이트ir family for 바카라사이트ir life choices, students who are escaping and rejecting abuse are unlikely to be keen to return to 바카라사이트ir dysfunctional home over 바카라사이트 summer period. It isn¡¯t an option.

, using a representative sample of 584 students who lack family support, suggested that 41 per cent had considered withdrawing or suspending [바카라사이트ir studies]. Fourteen per cent had actually done so. When asked for 바카라사이트 reasons, finance and stress were 바카라사이트 main contributing factors. One student stated: ¡°University was overwhelming. The lack of resources and money mean a low quality of life, and a lot of anxiety about sustaining myself. Combining that with 바카라사이트 work expectations at Oxford was too much, and it all became very isolating. There¡¯s an unwritten expectation that family will support you.¡±

If we don¡¯t help 바카라사이트se students without family capital, and aid 바카라사이트ir retention with some form of financial, emotional and material support, we are compromising 바카라사이트ir rights to access higher education. Higher education must not become a tool for personal and professional growth, which can only be completed by those who have a supportive family network.

Becca Bland is chief executive of , which supports adults who have become estranged from 바카라사이트ir family.