Just seven per cent of looked-after children went on to higher education in 2016. So how do we identify ways of better supporting those who successfully reach college or university, and how do we encourage others?
Last year, we were asked to do an evaluation of the Higher Education Champions coaching programme for looked-after children, a collaborative partnership run by Aimhigher London South, involving seven local authorities and eight universities (see bullet points).
The initiative targeted young people in care who were about to make the transition to higher education, with a view to identifying and addressing their support needs.
A "near-peer" coaching model was adopted whereby people were matched with a coach with experience of higher education and challenging life experiences. This enabled the "coachees" to ask questions, explore possibilities and make more informed decisions about their futures.
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