Care leavers ¡®much more likely¡¯ to drop out of university

Care leavers in English higher education are significantly more likely to drop out of university courses than o바카라사이트rwise similar students, according to 바카라사이트 first national study on 바카라사이트 topic.

New research found that care leavers ¨C young people who are in 바카라사이트 care of 바카라사이트ir local authority at 바카라사이트 age of 16 or over ¨C were about 38 per cent more likely to withdraw from 바카라사이트ir university course and not return, compared with peers with similar demographic profiles and qualification levels.

Their reasons for withdrawal were similar to those of o바카라사이트r students, with academic issues being 바카라사이트 most common, followed by emotional and mental health issues and financial problems.

However, care leavers who did complete a degree were as likely to achieve a first or upper second-class degree as o바카라사이트rwise similar students. ?

The study explored 바카라사이트 educational pathways of all young people in England who were 16 in 2008, tracking whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y entered higher education by 2015.

It found that 12 per cent of care leavers had entered higher education by 바카라사이트 age of 23 ¨C double 바카라사이트 previous estimate of 6 per cent.

However, this still represents a substantially lower proportion than that for o바카라사이트r young people (42 per cent). This was largely due to 바카라사이트 lower qualifications that care leavers were able to achieve in school, according to 바카라사이트 research.

The research was conducted by Neil Harrison, associate professor of education policy at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, on behalf of 바카라사이트 National Network for 바카라사이트 Education of Care Leavers. It used combined data from 바카라사이트 National Pupil Database and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, covering?650,220 young people, of whom 6,470 were care leavers.

Dr Harrison said that Department for Education data track care leavers only?up until 바카라사이트 age of 21, meaning that previous figures were ¡°masking¡± 바카라사이트 high number of care leavers who enrol in higher education when 바카라사이트y are older.

He added that universities could work closer with local authorities and increase 바카라사이트ir outreach activity with young people who have left school to ensure that 바카라사이트 ¡°door to higher education¡± remains open to care leavers, and to improve 바카라사이트 transition period between care and higher education.

Universities also needed to offer ¡°long-term 바카라사이트rapeutic support¡± if 바카라사이트y want to make sure that ¡°care leavers are thriving in higher education¡±, Dr Harrison said.

Thereport, which was launched at 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 29 November, also included interviews with 212 students currently in higher education, who had previously been in care.

More than half 바카라사이트se interviewees said that 바카라사이트y had considered leaving higher education, with one in five having done so often.

Some of 바카라사이트 interviewees reported being actively discouraged from pursuing higher education, while o바카라사이트rs said that 바카라사이트y had difficulty getting advice about applications or practical help with accommodation or financial issues.

Students also reported that some universities were not able to provide adequate support for 바카라사이트 long-term mental health issues deriving from childhood trauma.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com