We must follow the Russell Group's lead to improve care leaver access to universities
4 min read
Care leavers remain severely underrepresented on campus. Russell Group universities show us how we can truly tackle this.
The Labour government has rightly made breaking down barriers to opportunity central to its mission to give all young people the best chance in life. It’s a profound injustice that even in modern Britain, inequalities that start early in a child’s life can persist and widen as they get older, holding young people back from achieving future education and work goals. Government is doing its part to tackle this, and it’s vital to have the higher education sector as partners in this mission.
As a former lecturer, I know firsthand how transformative higher education can be. Young people today have a wide range of wonderful options available to them, and evidence repeatedly shows that those choosing a degree enjoy a marked difference to their future earnings and employment. University also brings a wealth of invaluable experiences – not just academically, but through extra-curricular opportunities, living independently and encountering a multitude of new people, cultures and ideas.
Progress is happening to give more people, from all walks of life, this opportunity. According to the Russell Group, the number of young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds attending their universities has increased by 56 per cent since 2019. I’ve seen the difference this makes in my home city. The University of Southampton, where I first studied and then worked until my election to Parliament, has a dedicated widening participation team that offers undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds a blend of financial, academic, career and personal opportunities to help them reach their full potential.
However, certain groups are still disproportionately underrepresented on our campuses. Just 14 per cent of care leavers in the UK are in higher education by the time they are 19, far below the wider population rate of 47 per cent.
From my own experiences, I understand how difficult it is to overcome the disruption and uncertainty that colours the early years of many people who grow up in or have childhood experience of care. While there are countless dedicated professionals who give wonderful encouragement and support, an aspiration and achievement gap persists. And the typical transition to university – parents accompanying you to open days, dropping you off at halls on the first day, even doing your laundry when you’re home for the holidays – simply doesn’t exist for a lot of young care leavers.
For care leavers entering straight into adulthood, this can be an abrupt transition. I‘m therefore pleased to see all 24 Russell Group universities have pledged to offer a tailored package of support to care leavers and care-experienced students, among a number of commitments on widening participation. It’s encouraging to see that this support doesn’t end at the application stage, but applies throughout university life.
Effective support can be wide ranging, from the basic practicalities to the intangible – from a free suitcase to pack for university (as provided by the University of York), to advice on finances and living independently. It’s encouraging to see Russell Group universities thinking creatively about what support can look like and sharing best practice across the sector.
Care leavers who have gained a place at my alma mater, the University of Southampton, can benefit from a pre-arrival transition day to get accustomed to campus and get to grips with student life. They receive welcome packs containing essentials to help them settle in, vouchers and a free bus pass or gym membership. Other universities offer similar support to make sure students always have a welcoming place to live. This can include bursaries, rent subsidies and guarantor schemes, bedding and kitchen equipment, guaranteed accommodation for 52 weeks of the year, and a dedicated support contact.
Young people who have experience of care are resilient, motivated and committed to fulfilling their ambitions – often in the face of a culture of low expectations. A place at university, and the support to succeed in their studies, can set them up for a very bright future. It’s good to see Russell Group universities’ new commitments. I hope to see these rolled out as standard across the higher education sector, providing the much-needed ladder of support to assist care leavers and care-experienced young people at every stage of their journey.
Darren Paffey is the Labour MP for Southampton Itchen and a member of the Education Select Committee.
