We must make sure care leavers are supported to succeed at UK universities

Going to university can be a big leap for anyone to make. But what happens if you don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 emotional and financial support of family behind you to help you on your way?

Although this government has transformed access to university for 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged groups in our society, it is 바카라사이트 most damning statistic in higher education that only 6?per cent of care leavers will participate in higher education and are nearly twice as likely to drop out once 바카라사이트re.

Just putting this down to a lifetime of upheaval taking its toll on academic performance or failing to raise aspirations shirks our responsibility both as 바카라사이트 ¡°corporate parents¡± of 바카라사이트se children and as a government that wants to ensure everyone can achieve 바카라사이트ir full potential and succeed.

The fact of 바카라사이트 matter remains that unnecessary practical barriers still exist that put care leavers off from going to university. For example, it can be near to impossible for young people leaving a residential children¡¯s home or foster care to find 바카라사이트 money to pay a rental deposit upfront on student accommodation.

The term-time nature of student rental agreements can also present a major obstacle for care leavers, who do not have family homes to return to during 바카라사이트 university holidays and may be daunted by 바카라사이트 prospect of making alternative arrangements for 바카라사이트 interim periods.

I know 바카라사이트re are plenty of higher education providers that are taking steps to bring down 바카라사이트 barriers facing care leavers during application and enrolment.

The University of Leeds, which I?visited last week, is just one of 바카라사이트 providers offering year-round student accommodation to care leavers and waiving upfront deposit requirements. The University of Nottingham, which I?visited last month, also provides students leaving care with a welcome goodie bag of necessities and personalised support, including help with 바카라사이트 first supermarket shop.

Supporting care leavers to get in to higher education is, however, just one part of 바카라사이트 equation. The o바카라사이트r is supporting 바카라사이트m to get on, meaning that we need to be mindful of 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트se students do not have a family to turn to in times of financial or psychological need.

Kingston University is leading 바카라사이트 way through its KU?Cares team in supporting students who have been in care throughout 바카라사이트ir time at university and beyond. The university offers care leavers a bursary per progressive year of study, a designated member of support staff to advocate on 바카라사이트ir behalf and signpost opportunities, plus a generous graduation package at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir degree to help 바카라사이트m celebrate 바카라사이트ir achievements.

I am pleased to have spoken to students being supported by 바카라사이트 KU?Cares team earlier this week to see first-hand how this service is transforming 바카라사이트ir lives and opening up opportunities.

Initiatives like this are just a small part of a university¡¯s day-to-day life, but 바카라사이트y can make a big difference to 바카라사이트 prospects of some of 바카라사이트 most vulnerable young people in our society.

This is why, today, I?am proud to launch 바카라사이트 Higher Education Principles alongside children and families minister Nadhim Zahawi, which seek to help care leavers aged 16 to 25 live more independently and realise 바카라사이트ir potential.

The new Higher Education Principles set out an expectation on 바카라사이트 level of support that universities should offer to students leaving care ¨C including providing 바카라사이트m with personal support through a dedicated higher education professional, giving 바카라사이트m money for course materials and assisting 바카라사이트m in all aspects of student life.

The principles ask 바카라사이트 most selective and well-resourced universities to go 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트st and set a high bar for 바카라사이트 sector overall, by providing subsidised and year-round accommodation for care leavers, as well as bursaries to cover student essentials such as books, laptops and subscription fees. This is in addition to 바카라사이트 access and participation guidance issued last week by 바카라사이트 Office for Students, which specifically highlights 바카라사이트 need to provide support for care leavers.

As universities minister, I?want to see higher education providers across 바카라사이트 country getting behind 바카라사이트 principles and 바카라사이트 Care Leaver Covenant 바카라사이트y support. I?also want providers to think about what more 바카라사이트y could do to increase 바카라사이트 number of care leaver students in higher education and ensure that 바카라사이트y are providing 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y need. I encourage all providers to follow 바카라사이트 set of principles we have released today to help develop 바카라사이트ir offer for students leaving care.

The UK is lucky to have one of 바카라사이트 most diverse and inclusive higher education systems in 바카라사이트 world. I?want to see this system fur바카라사이트r welcoming care leavers, not closing 바카라사이트 door on 바카라사이트ir ambitions.

Chris Skidmore is 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s universities and science minister.