Project status
In progress
Duration
1 Jan 2025 to 30 Sep 2026
In progress
1 Jan 2025 to 30 Sep 2026
Fourteen percent of care leavers were in higher education by the age of 19 in 2021/22, with only 2% progressing to higher-tariff institutions (Simes, 2023). However, it’s estimated that around a third of care experienced students will apply as mature students (UCAS, 2022). Additionally, the OfS (2020) report states 3,000 estranged students join higher education each year.
Care experienced and estranged students may face challenges that make it harder to transition and succeed at university. This could range from a tough transition, building rapport and psychological needs, academic preparedness, and financial and accommodation challenges. Cotton, Nash & Kneale (2014) mentioned care leavers success in higher education includes motivation to participate, being prepared for university and having academic, personal and financial support.
Almost every university offers financial support for care experienced and estranged students, with many also offering a named contact for additional pastoral guidance. However, the levels of support will differ depending on caseloads, proactivity of support and contact, and the training/experience of contacts (Bhattacharya & Payne, 2024).
Recognising the potential engagement risks for these student groups, the University of Bath provides mandatory appointments each semester. A named contact in the Student Retention and Success team uses a proforma to scaffold conversations. This ensures that pastoral and academic experiences are discussed and appropriate referrals and/or actions are taken to support each student. The SRS team’s goal is to ensure that all students are accessing all possible support at the University, building the necessary rapport with student and staff to succeed in their studies.
Using the OfS standards of evidence this project will produce Type 2 (empirical evidence)
At the end of the project timeline, a report will be published on this webpage.
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See all the Access and Participation Research Projects This project is part of a set of projects that were committed in the Access and Participation PlanIf you have any questions about this project then please get in touch