This guest blog has been kindly written for HEPI by Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London.
Starting university can be daunting.
Even more so for those who face additional barriers to accessing higher education. For students who are care experienced or are estranged from their families, there’s more to consider than just getting the right grades – access to the right support, both practical and emotional, is key to making the best plans for their future.
A vital part of this is access to stable, safe and full-year accommodation. Having a secure home provides a sense of security, community and support that cannot be underestimated, especially for students who have lived in care or are estranged from their family.
We know that students who are care leavers are less likely to continue into the second year of their course. The Office for Students found that the continuation rate of care leavers was 5.6 percentage points lower than that for students who have not been in care. It is a similar parallel for the percentage of students graduating with ‘good’ degrees, that is achieving a First or 2:1.
