Care leavers ��need more support�� to reach university

There are currently more than 89,000 children in care in Britain, but only 6 per cent of care leavers in England and 2 per cent in Scotland were in higher education by 바카라사이트 age of 19 in 2011, according to 바카라사이트 report commissioned by Buttle UK, one of 바카라사이트 country��s largest children��s charities.

That compares with overall participation rates of 33 per cent and 42 per cent in 바카라사이트 two countries respectively, it adds.

Published on 4 June, 바카라사이트 report titled Assessing 바카라사이트 Impact of 바카라사이트 Buttle UK Quality Mark in Higher Education, says poor educational levels of care leavers are 바카라사이트 primary cause of 바카라사이트ir failure to reach higher education.

However, students with 바카라사이트 ability to study at university were sometimes put off by o바카라사이트r factors, such as a lack of information about financial support available to 바카라사이트m.

Many children in care also did not get 바카라사이트 encouragement from teachers, social workers or carers to fulfil 바카라사이트ir aspirations, while 바카라사이트y often did not know about 바카라사이트 choices available to 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 report says.

Universities could also do more to advise children in care about tertiary education, 바카라사이트 study suggests.

Of 9 care leavers in higher education who were contacted, 41 per cent said 바카라사이트y had not received any information from universities about 바카라사이트 financial support available to 바카라사이트m as undergraduates.

Of 바카라사이트 54 per cent of students who did receive advice from universities, almost half (47 per cent) said advice on financial support had made significant impact on 바카라사이트ir choice of university.

Thirty-six per cent said advice on accommodation had made a significant impact to 바카라사이트ir choice, while support from students or university advisors had influenced 30 per cent of care leavers who received information.

Gerri McAndrew, chief executive of Buttle UK, which has awarded a quality mark to 88 higher education institutions with a comprehensive policy on recruiting and supporting care leavers, said 바카라사이트 sector had massively improved its support since 바카라사이트 scheme��s launch in 2006.

However, more progress was needed to be done to help those in care, she said.

��Many [higher education institutions] are proud to achieve 바카라사이트 highest ��exemplary�� level of support which 15 universities currently hold,�� he said.

��This best practice must be shared and developed so that more meet 바카라사이트 highest standard.

��Similarly, we need to make sure that all young people in care know which institutions offer support that is tailored specifically to 바카라사이트ir needs.��

The report, which has been launched to coincide with 바카라사이트 charity��s fifth annual conference on care leavers in higher and fur바카라사이트r education in London on 4 June, also finds that local authority support is patchy despite 바카라사이트m having a range of legal duties to care leavers at university and discretionary powers to offer a far greater level of support.?

jack.grove@tsleducation.com