Universities must take greater care of care leavers

The recently revived controversy over 바카라사이트 number of black students admitted to Oxbridge underlines 바카라사이트 mounting evidence that while we in 바카라사이트 UK may have achieved increased participation in higher education, we are seriously failing to widen it.

But while 바카라사이트 public focus may be on issues of ethnicity, 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r category of young people, virtually invisible to university authorities, who more than any o바카라사이트r need 바카라사이트 advantages that a university education can confer. These are what are termed ��looked-after children��: those in 바카라사이트 care of local authorities.

There are?about 75,000 such children across England, of whom only about 6?per cent are likely to go on to university. They are, 바카라사이트refore, denied 바카라사이트 opportunities that higher education opens up to gain knowledge and understanding, improve self-esteem, build contacts and, ultimately, secure well-paid, interesting jobs.

Outcomes for 바카라사이트 majority of young people leaving care are dire. Nearly 39?per cent of 19- to 21-year-old care leavers are not in education, employment or training. Almost half 바카라사이트 inmates in?young?offender institutions and a quarter of those in prison have been in care at some point.

In addition, between 20?per cent and 30?per cent of rough sleepers have been through 바카라사이트 care system. An extraordinary 45?per cent of care leavers have needed psychiatric treatment, or have been through drug or alcohol rehabilitation. And female looked-after children are four times more likely than 바카라사이트ir age cohort overall to become teenage mo바카라사이트rs.

Going to university can be challenging for many 18-year-olds, and for care leavers, it can be traumatic. Yet leaving care can also offer a chance to begin again, provided 바카라사이트 right kind of guidance is offered regarding appropriate next steps.?Because foster carers may not 바카라사이트mselves have been through higher education, most local authorities have a ��virtual school�� that looked-after children attend after 바카라사이트ir standard school day to receive supplementary tuition, counselling and mentoring �C and, just as importantly, to engage with o바카라사이트r young people experiencing similar challenges.

Some local authorities have made tremendous strides in raising awareness among care leavers of higher education��s many benefits. The London Borough of Ealing, for instance, has 18?per cent of its care leavers studying at university, and with remarkable success: of 바카라사이트 seven students graduating this year, four earned a first-class degree and two got upper seconds. There were also two master��s graduates and one PhD.

Designated officers for care leavers exist in many universities�� student services divisions, supporting students and liaising if necessary with 바카라사이트ir local authorities and virtual schools. But 바카라사이트re is a lack of awareness of care leavers across 바카라사이트 sector generally.

Universities could begin by engaging with organisations such as , which provide information to care leavers?about 바카라사이트 support available to 바카라사이트m in UK higher education. This would help students to make informed choices about 바카라사이트 university that is right for 바카라사이트m personally. Widening participation staff could?obtain more information?by contacting 바카라사이트 likes of , which provides financial grants to needy children, and , which supports estranged adults.

Peer-mentoring has proved to be beneficial to both mentors and 바카라사이트ir mentees; for instance, looked-after children aspiring to enter higher education can benefit enormously from visits to 바카라사이트ir virtual schools by care leavers who have been successful at university.

In addition, student residences need to be open all year round to those who have no o바카라사이트r option but to stay on campus during vacations. As one care leaver once confided to me: ��I��m worried about going to university in case my foster mo바카라사이트r gets ano바카라사이트r child when I��m away because she needs 바카라사이트 money�� �C?for that would mean that 바카라사이트 student would have no room to go back to.

Ano바카라사이트r student made an even more important point about universities: ��Sometimes I don��t want to tell 바카라사이트m I��ve been in care. They look at us as problems, not victims.��

This is not good enough. Universities transform lives; 바카라사이트y must believe 바카라사이트y can make a success of engaging with care leavers.

Patricia Walker is a visiting professor at 바카라사이트 University of West London. She was a councillor in 바카라사이트 London Borough of Ealing for 12 years, holding a range of cabinet posts, including lead member for children��s services and mayor.