The School for Policy Studies’ Children and Families Research Centre (CFRC) welcomes Dr. Katie Ellis for the second instalment of the CFRC Summer Seminar Series. Katie will present her insightful work on care leavers’ pathways to university. 

Over 80,000 children in England were being looked after in Local Authority Care in 2020 and a further 40,000 people were defined as ‘care leavers’.

Although a significant body of research highlights the prevalence of educational low achievement in the care experienced population, official government figures show that around 13% of care experienced pupils progress to higher education by the age of 19.  

In a climate of ‘widening participation’ in which universities encourage inclusion and student diversity, this research invited students with a care background, to discuss their experiences of settling into university life.

Data was collected using in-depth interviews with 42 students from four universities and an online survey completed by 192 students in 29 universities in England and Wales.

Findings revealed that although care experienced students overcame serious challenges to progress to higher education, over half considered dropping out. Others reported feeling isolated and inadequately supported, both financially and pastorally by their institution.

This paper uses a lens of resilience to consider the environmental factors impacting upon student transitions, concluding that universities must act to balance inequalities and instead welcome care leavers for the skills and experience they bring.  

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Speaker bio: Dr Katie Ellis is a Lecturer in child and family wellbeing at the University of Sheffield. Her research champions the voices of young people leaving care and critiques notions of vulnerability, resilience, and agency.                              

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