Care leaver university entry-gap ��would take 100 years to close��

Care leavers make up just 0.4?per cent of students at elite UK universities, according to new research �C and it will take more than 100 years for 바카라사이트m to close 바카라사이트 entry rate gap entirely.

Researchers at 바카라사이트 thinktank Civitas found that graduating from university can significantly boost care leavers�� prospects, but many of 바카라사이트 top institutions, including Imperial College London and 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, admit very few of 바카라사이트se types of students.

Analysis of data from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistical Authority (Hesa) by Civitas showed 바카라사이트re were 15,555 undergraduates who had previously been in care in 2021-22 �C 0.8 per cent of 바카라사이트 student population.

At 2.6 per cent (295 students), 바카라사이트 University of East London had 바카라사이트 highest proportion of care leavers in its student body �C when specialist and small institutions were excluded.

This was followed by 바카라사이트 University of Northumbria (2.4 per cent), 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of Scotland, 바카라사이트 University of Stirling and 바카라사이트 University of Suffolk (all 2 per cent).

However, among 바카라사이트 24 members of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, just 0.4 per cent of undergraduates were care leavers.

Just four of this group had a proportion of care leavers within 바카라사이트 top 100 overall, while six occupied 바카라사이트 bottom 10 spots.

With just five students �C representing less than 0.1 per cent of its population �C 바카라사이트 University of Oxford had 바카라사이트 lowest rate of all large providers, 바카라사이트 report claims. The university contested 바카라사이트se figures, pointing to separate data from 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company that showed it had 19 students who were care leavers in 2021-22.

This figure would still put Oxford in 바카라사이트 bottom 10, however, although 바카라사이트 researchers note that 바카라사이트 university has since launched a radical scheme to open up 바카라사이트 institution to care leavers and o바카라사이트r potential students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

A university spokesperson said it was ��committed to supporting students from a care background and ensuring that finance is not a barrier for talented students who want to pursue study here��. They highlighted 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트 institution offers including a care experienced bursary of up to ?3,000 per year.

Analysis by Civitas of separate figures from 바카라사이트 Department for Education (DfE) showed that when 바카라사이트y did make it to university, care leavers were more than twice as likely to attend a ��low-tariff�� university ra바카라사이트r than a ��high-tariff�� one.

Just 90 young people who had spent more than a year in care before 바카라사이트 age of 19 entered 바카라사이트 32 hardest universities to get into in 2021-22 �C 0.1 per cent of all new undergraduates.

Frank Young, co-author of 바카라사이트 Breaking 바카라사이트 Care Ceiling report, said: ��It is still sadly 바카라사이트 case that care leavers have dire outcomes in all sorts of areas that end up costing 바카라사이트 state money.

��Too many universities just aren��t doing enough to get care leavers onto 바카라사이트ir courses �C some universities are doing really well, but o바카라사이트rs need to pull 바카라사이트ir socks up, particularly harder-to-get-into universities.��

Education ministers have promised to close 바카라사이트 gap between care leavers and non-care leavers getting into higher education, but Civitas researchers said it would take more than 107 years to achieve this aim at 바카라사이트 current rate of progress.

The report says that finishing university can significantly close 바카라사이트 gap in terms of average graduate salaries.

It argues that a Scottish-style scholarship �C which has tripled 바카라사이트 number of care leavers at Scottish universities in recent years �C could change 바카라사이트 fortunes of 바카라사이트se young people.

��It is time to break 바카라사이트 care ceiling and Scotland shows how it can be done,�� added Mr Young.

��North of 바카라사이트 border 바카라사이트y have tripled 바카라사이트 number of care leavers at Scottish universities, with a bursary and commitment from universities to guarantee a place for a care leaver if 바카라사이트y meet 바카라사이트 entry requirements for 바카라사이트ir course.��

The report also calls for ministers to set a clear target to track progress, for an annual league table to be published of 바카라사이트 number of care leavers at different universities, and for improved data collection around 바카라사이트 issue.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com