The Key to the Quality Mark – The By Degrees Research Project
In the course of providing support, through the Grant Scheme for Students and Trainees, for young people attending university who had been in local authority care, the Trust became aware that the challenges they face are radically different to those faced by the vast majority of students.
In order to evaluate the experience of those who had moved to university from care, the Trust, in 2001, commissioned a five-year action research study ‘By Degrees: Going to University from Care’. The research project, in which 129 care leavers participated, was undertaken at the Thomas Coram Research Unit of the Institute of Education, University of London.
In order to evaluate the experience of those who had moved to university from care, the Trust, in 2001, commissioned a five-year action research study ‘By Degrees: Going to University from Care’. The research project, in which 129 care leavers participated, was undertaken at the Thomas Coram Research Unit of the Institute of Education, University of London.
The Final Research Report
The final research report, "Going to university from care", launched in May 2005, demonstrated that those who succeeded did so against considerable odds, both in terms of pre-entry support and that within the higher education institution.
The process of applying to and succeeding within higher education is a challenge for any young person. It is significantly more difficult for someone who may not have the traditional family support structure, parental involvement in the school process, and who may have only limited engagement with Connexions and other agencies.
Once they enter higher education, students from care backgrounds may find that they have limited, if any, financial support on arrival, no residential accommodation in the vacations and no family support to fall back on.
The process of applying to and succeeding within higher education is a challenge for any young person. It is significantly more difficult for someone who may not have the traditional family support structure, parental involvement in the school process, and who may have only limited engagement with Connexions and other agencies.
Once they enter higher education, students from care backgrounds may find that they have limited, if any, financial support on arrival, no residential accommodation in the vacations and no family support to fall back on.
Read or download
a Summary of the Final 'By Degrees' Report's findings or read or download the Final 'By Degrees' Report 'Going to university from care'
Higher Education Commitment to Care Leavers
The Frank Buttle Trust has worked with Universities UK, the Standing Conference of Principals, (SCOP), the Association of Colleges (AOC) and the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education (AMOSSHE) to develop a statement of commitment to care leavers in higher education. This statement provides a charter through which higher education providers can demonstrate their commitment to supporting care leavers.
Link to Letter of EndorsementThe Commitment recognises the challenges faced by care leavers entering higher education and seeks to:
- Facilitate an increase in the number of care leavers entering higher education;
- Help higher education providers to identify how best to support care leavers;
- Raise awareness of the needs of this group of students;
- Enable care leavers to make the most of their time in higher education and to complete their courses successfully;
- Contribute to a national framework to assist local authorities to fulfil their obligations to care leavers.
Adoption of this Commitment will mean that higher education providers will need to be more flexible in their support systems and to form active working relationships with local authorities to ensure that an appropriate plan is in place to support care leavers.
Leaving Care legislation places a statutory obligation on local authorities and Trusts in Northern Ireland to provide financial, practical and emotional support for young people formerly in care, for as long as they remain in an approved programme of education.
The challenges facing the care leaver are grouped within the Commitment into:
Leaving Care legislation places a statutory obligation on local authorities and Trusts in Northern Ireland to provide financial, practical and emotional support for young people formerly in care, for as long as they remain in an approved programme of education.
The challenges facing the care leaver are grouped within the Commitment into:
- Outreach and guidance
- Support through the application process
- Structured support in the higher education institution
This means that higher education providers need to recognise the disadvantage that exists and ensure that the necessary adjustments are made. It is not easy to navigate the care system and to achieve a place in higher education at the same time. That is why there are so few students from care studying in higher education.
It is envisaged that higher education providers will link this Commitment to other schemes and activities such as Aimhigher. The intention is to obtain a commitment from the higher education provider which will ensure that the particular needs of care leavers are taken into consideration and that appropriate support is readily accessible as required. The wishes of care leavers as independent adults with rights to confidentiality must be respected at all times.
The Commitment expects higher education providers to:
It is envisaged that higher education providers will link this Commitment to other schemes and activities such as Aimhigher. The intention is to obtain a commitment from the higher education provider which will ensure that the particular needs of care leavers are taken into consideration and that appropriate support is readily accessible as required. The wishes of care leavers as independent adults with rights to confidentiality must be respected at all times.
The Commitment expects higher education providers to:
- Raise aspirations and achievement
- Ensure that admissions procedures for care leavers are appropriate
- Provide entry and ongoing support
- Monitor implementation of the Commitment
Link to the CommitmentThe Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education
To receive recognition under the scheme, higher education providers will need to apply to the Trust for registration, demonstrating how their commitment to care leavers is embedded in their strategic policy framework, and how the scheme will be implemented and monitored. The Frank Buttle Trust will issue a Quality Mark to qualifying institutions and oversee the implementation of the scheme through a non-bureaucratic monitoring system.
How to Apply for the Quality Mark
Read or Download the Quality Mark LeafletIf you would like to receive an Information Pack about The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education, please contact:
The Frank Buttle Trust
Audley House
13 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HX
Telephone: 020 7798 6225
Fax: 020 7828 4724
email:info@buttletrust.org
Audley House
13 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HX
Telephone: 020 7798 6225
Fax: 020 7828 4724
email:info@buttletrust.org