Webinar Lunchtime Series: Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care
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Professor Leon Feinstein will set out findings from a recent published report on ‘Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care’. Co-Author Professor James Robson will discuss the general implications for widening participation in Higher Education. Dr Jo Begbie will consider the implications for Oxford University. Jo is Programme Director of Astrophoria which provides access to Oxford University for UK state school students who have experienced severe personal disadvantage or disruption to their education.
This report provides new data on patterns of entry to higher education (HE) of young people in England who:
- meet the statutory definition of a care leaver
- were previously in care at any point after the age of 5 but not meeting the statutory definition of a care leaver
- were on a child protection plan (at any point after the age of 11)
- were “Children in Need” at any point after the age of 11.
The study draws on newly matched national, administrative datasets in relation to a birth year cohort of young people with stable residence in England from the age of 11 onwards, born between 1st September 1998 and 31st August 1999.
The report provides basic statistical findings on the general research question: How do these different groups of young people with experience of children’s social care tend to differ in their progression to and through HE compared to each other and other young people?
The study found that care leavers – and those who have ever been in care – have rates of entry to HE by age 22 four times lower than the general population. All 4 groups with experience of children’s social care have substantively lower rates of entry than young people eligible for free school meals.
Those with experience of children’s social care who progress to higher education are more likely to attend later in life, and to take a vocational route to get there.
These findings point to a need for all higher education providers to accept students from vocational routes, and to set strategies for recruiting mature learners. This call is relevant to all providers, but especially high-tariff or more ‘prestigious’ universities, where care leavers are notably underrepresented.
Bio
Leon Feinstein is the Professor of Education and Children’s Social Care and Director of the Rees Centre. Previously, he was the Director of Evidence at the Children’s Commissioner’s Office. He has also held the post of Chief Analyst in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit in HM Treasury. He has a PhD in Economics from the University College London. Leon is a Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, a Visiting Professor at LSE and the University of Sussex, a Trustee at the What Works Centre for Social Care and a Member of the Youth Endowment Fund Grants Committee and the NSPCC Research Advisory Group. Leon has written, edited and reviewed various publications, including books, journal special issues and special sections, practitioner and policy journals, published research reports, discussion papers and reports for government departments and agencies. Leon has led and been a part of numerous grants and awards.
James Robson is Director of the Centre for Skills, Knowledge, and Organisational Performance (SKOPE), Associate Professor of Tertiary Education Systems and Director for Research. He also leads the MSc in Higher Education, and sits on the Research Management Committee and is CI of the Centre for Global Higher Education.
Jo Begbie is Programme Director of Astrophoria which provides access to Oxford University for UK state school students who have experienced severe personal disadvantage or disruption to their education.
Event Speakers
