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Paper

The outcomes of the “Way Ahead” project in Leicestershire

abstract

Background

Only 6% of care leavers progress to higher education, compared with 38% of school-leavers. Previous research has identified a number of recommendations to increase the achievement of this disadvantaged group. The Leicestershire Aimhigher Partnership has led a national project, funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, to move these recommendations forward and embed them in practice. The project, named the 'Way Ahead' was also informed by a researcher, seconded from De Montfort University who performed a longitudinal study involving seven cohorts of looked after children (LAC). The children's educational attainment and care backgrounds were analysed and correlated (O'Sullivan and Westerman 2007).

 

Purpose

The aim of the Way Ahead project is to raise aspirations, achievement rates and participation in further and higher education for children in care. The successful project has been sustained beyond its initial period with funding contributions from local partners and has now been mainstreamed within core looked after children services.

 

The project has involved the production of a DVD about options for those aged 14 to 19, which is targeted at carers and social workers; supporting gifted and talented care leavers and extending the 'designated teacher' requirement placed on schools (by which teachers liaise with social services) in a post-16 setting.

 

It has also focussed on how universities and colleges can contribute to preparing care leavers for higher education and support them once they have embarked on a course. The Way Ahead project has been informed by a longitudinal research project, By Degrees: From Care to University, supported by the Frank Buttle Trust that produced its final report in the summer of 2005 (Jackson, Ajayi and Quigley 2005).

 

This Buttle Trust research included a range of recommendations, such as ensuring that care leavers are cared for in an environment that values education; that there is comprehensive advice, guidance and support for care leavers so that they are fully informed about all the options open to them; that funding is adequate to provide for all aspects of life in higher education, including 52-week-a-year accommodation; that ongoing emotional support is available throughout the higher education experience (in the absence of parental support); and that universities and colleges are encouraged to establish arrangements that support the achievement and progression of care leavers in higher education.

 

Of course, for looked after children to progress on into higher education (HE) they need to be successful in school and in post-16 learning as well. Consequently, the Way Ahead project in Leicestershire has focussed on development work with local colleges and other partners to raise awareness of options and opportunities across the key stages. This has included the organisation of Way Ahead events for foster carers, social workers and other staff working with LAC with the aim of improving the awareness of options and opportunities 13-19. The February 2007 event held at Leicester College offered taster activities for LAC and their carers that encompassed printing, fashion, textiles, dance and digital photography.

 

Another important aspect of the project for further education (FE), and other post-16 providers, is a pilot of the 'designated teacher for LAC' (which is a statutory requirement in schools) in post-16 settings. Leicester and Loughborough Colleges have recently appointed staff to undertake this role. They have responsibility for overseeing the progress of all LAC in their respective colleges and for liaising with schools to support a smooth transition for other LAC who have applied for courses at the two colleges. These appointments have now been in post for two years and some of our data analysis shows an improvement in retention of looked after children/care leavers in the relevant colleges.

 

Other recent successes have included:

  • Summer Schools for looked after children and care leavers hosted by the three local Universities over two days on a non-residential basis.
  • "Project X" summer activities for young people to provide a transition into post 16 learning.
  • A young person who has been engaged in Way Ahead project activities received an Aimhigher national award in the category of 'inspirational success stories'.

 

A key part of the project is facilitating the dissemination nationally of good practice in relation to improving the educational and progression outcomes for LAC. A launch conference in December 2004 was very successful in bringing together practitioners and managers from the key sectors; local authorities, educational establishments, Connexions, Social Services, Aimhigher and voluntary sector organisations such as 'The Who Cares Trust'. An end of project conference, 'Supporting Success', took place in November 2006 and was attended by 130 delegates from across the country. The conference reported the project outcomes and all delegates received a free pack of resources that have been produced during the life of the project including the DVD, a set of posters designed by looked after children and care leavers in Leicestershire and other publications.

 

The research strand of the Way Ahead project that has involved using the data gathered about LAC to improve our understanding of the issues that impact on achievement on progression and which interventions make a difference. This strand of the project has been led by Dr. Angela O'Sullivan who has been seconded to the Way Ahead project from De Montfort University. Her findings have revealed the complex interactions of the factors that impact on looked after children's educational achievement and have led to a number of key recommendations.

 

Recommendations

  • Placement and school moves should be minimised, particularly in Years 10 and 11.
  • No more than three placement moves should occur in any one year.

 

Key references

Jackson, S., Ajayi, S. and Quigley, M. (2005) Going to University from Care. Final report of the By degrees project. London: Institute of Education.

 

O'Sullivan, A. and Westerman, R. (2007) 'Closing the gap: Investigating the barriers to educational achievement for looked after children.' Adoption and Fostering 31, 1.

 

Contact details

Tim Farthing, Aimhigher Co-ordinator, VESA 13-19 Education Support Agency, Leicestershire, Knighton Fields Centre, Herrick Rd, Leicester, LE2 6DH, UK.

Email: tim.farthing@vesa.org.uk

 

Dr Angela O'Sullivan, seconded to the Way Ahead project from De Montfort University. The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, UK.

Email: aosullivan@dmu.ac.uk

 

Jane Millward, Virtual Head teacher for Looked After Children, Leicester City. Hillview, 1B Blackmore Drive Leicester, LE3 1LP, UK. Email: jane.millward@leicester.gov.uk

 

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