The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education
Quality Mark Practice Guidelines
In 2010 the Frank Buttle Trust and Action on Access have produced a Quality Mark practice guide which has been funded by HEFCE. Drawing on the experiences of higher education institutions which have had the award for a few years, the guidelines can be used to inform institutions yet to apply for the Quality Mark as well as consolidate the practice of those which already have it.
The Frank Buttle Trust set up the Quality Mark in 2006 in recognition of Higher Education institutions who go that extra mile to support students who have been in public care. Bill Rammell, then Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, launched the Quality Mark at a reception hosted by the late Lord Dearing in the House of Lords.|
“ The Quality Mark is a great step forward. Not only does it show care leavers that higher education providers are committed to helping them overcome the challenges they face, it ensures that care leavers have the same educational opportunities as other young people.” |
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Bill Rammell
Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning |
The first six universities to be awarded the Quality Mark in 2006 were:
- Edge Hill University
- Kingston University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University of Bradford
- University of Leeds
- University of Southampton
Representatives from the first six Universities to be awarded the Quality Mark
The following universities have the Quality Mark:
- University for The Creative Arts
- Swansea Metropolitan University
- University of West of England
- Glyndwr University
- University of East Anglia
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of Bristol
- Newman University College
- University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
- Liverpool John Moores University
- University Of Chester
- University of Glamorgan
- The University of York
- Royal Veterinary College
- Aberystwyth University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- University College Falmouth
- University of Birmingham
- Wakefield College
- St George's, University of London
- University of Wolverhampton
- New College Durham
- Bath Spa University
- The University of Manchester
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of Cambridge
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Ruskin College
- Trinity University College
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Brunel University
- University of Nottingham
- University College London
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Oxford
- University of Westminster
- The Manchester Metropolitan University
- University of Sunderland
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Sheffield
- York St John University
- University of Teesside
- University of Glasgow
- University of Liverpool
- University of Abertay
- Loughborough University
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Leicester
- University of Bedfordshire
- The University of Winchester
- Staffordshire University
- Swansea University
- University of Northumbria at Newcastle
- University of Lincoln
- Leeds Metropolitan University
- University of Surrey
- Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln
- University of Chichester
- University of Greenwich
- University of Edinburgh
- Newcastle University
- Brighton University
- Carmarthenshire College
- London South Bank University
- Bangor University
- North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI)
- Cardiff University
- University of Sussex
- De Montfort University
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“ I am delighted that the Minister has launched the Quality Mark for Care Leavers in Higher Education, and greatly appreciate the support and enthusiasm we have had in developing the Higher Education Commitment to Care Leavers, from universities and other higher education providers and professional organisations.” |
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Gerri McAndrew Chief Executive, The Frank Buttle Trust |
Graduate Care Leavers at the Launch
Quality Mark Launched in Wales!
The Quality Mark was launched in Wales in November 2006. The event was coordinated and funded by HEFCW and the Welsh Assembly. Jane Davidson, the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, who spoke at the launch, put the higher education institutions in Wales "on notice", with the expectation that all institutions would have been awarded the Quality Mark by the end of 2007.
Quality Mark Launched in Scotland!
Children and Early Years Minister Adam Ingram launched The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark in Scotland in 2007. The Quality Mark was awarded to the following institutions at the launch:
- University of Abertay
- University of Glasgow
- University of Strathclyde
Children and Early Years Minister Adam Ingram
Research Project
The Trust is working with a research student at Loughborough University who is undertaking a PhD to explore how the experience of care leavers in higher education has changed since the introduction of new policies and initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for care leavers, with focus upon the impact of The Frank Buttle Trust Quality Mark.