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Expanding Opportunities for Pupils in Care

Delivered by Catherine Shillito,Widening Participation Lead,

Outreach Team, Student Recruitment and Admissions

An Overview of LJMU’s Year 10 University Experience

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Session Overview:

• What is it and how it came about?

• Aims & Objectives

• Content & Promotion

• Evaluation & Impact

• Challenges

• What next?

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Aims & Objectives

Aim: Through a two-day residential experience, introduce the young people to student and university life. The aim is to see a raise in confidence, aspiration, and the belief that given the right support they can enter Higher Education.

Objectives:

• Via a series of H.E focused workshops, interactive sessions and social activities -support the young people to see what is required to aspire to and enter H.E.

• Develop a sense of belonging that they would ‘fit in’ if they choose University as an option.

• Provide some knowledge of routes into education and the support available to care leavers.

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Year 10 University Experience

During the final week of June, LJMU welcome upto 40 Year 10 pupils from across the North West Region, who are in or have spent time in local authority care to experience a two day, one night residential.

Activities include:

• An introduction to the Higher Education experience

• University Campus Tour and overnight stay in LJMU accommodation

• Hands-on taster sessions in one of LJMU’s many subject areas

• Opportunity to participate in social activities with LJMU students

• A chance to speak to current care-experienced students.

• The residential is FREE and includes all meals, refreshments and materials needed throughout the event.

• Opportunity for students to bring a friend** should they feel more comfortable knowing someone taking part.

** WP criteria

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Content

• Activities are primarily advocate led (trained and DBS checked)

• Taster Sessions

• Skill development

• Sessions from LJMU Care Leaver Co-ordinator

• Chance to see various campus buildings

• Scavenger hunt across the city & Social

activities in the evening

• New for this year – Academic Led Sessions

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Promotion

• Building strong relationships is key!

• School contacts, Local Authorities, Care homes etc.

• Expand reach from Merseyside based schools to North West.

• Single point of contact – me!

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Video

• https://youtu.be/Ogiw5kgy9ok

Evaluation

• Support from PhD student who sits within Outreach Team (although only works 2 days per week)

• Consistent model of pre/post questionnaires.

• Produce annual report and infographic for each residential.

• Reflection document made on positives, challenges and improvements for the following year.

Results Over the course of the LAC Summer University project, pupils in attendance have seen an increase in perception or aspiration of three main areas:

1. Aspiration to study for a HE qualification2. Empowerment to apply to university3. An understanding of job satisfaction and broadening opportunities4. Personal identity and belonging

Each summer university has also had a positive impact upon reducing financial barriers for attendees.

In 2015 pupils showed significant (p < 0.05) increases in:1. Their ability to make a decision about going to university2. An enhanced feeling of 'fitting in' in university3. More confident about the affordability of university

In 2017 pupils showed significant (p < 0.05) increases in:1. Aspiration to obtain a HE qualification2. Their ability to make a decision about going to university

In 2018 pupils showed significant (p < 0.05) increases in:1. Their ability to make a decision about going to university2. An enhanced feeling of 'fitting in' in university3. More confident about the affordability of university4. Understanding the processes necessary to secure a place in university

Over the course of the three years 90 pupils have participated in the programme.

Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0 (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test for non-parameteric data. Significance level was set to 0.05).

Challenges

• Application forms – require more oversight than standard visit or Year 12 residential

• Drop out rate

• Disclosures/Medications

• Language barriers

• Dietary requirements

• Loco parentis

• Photography/Video consent

• Year 11 Celebration Event in which we invite their carers.

• Personalised invite to Year 12 Activities – Open Days and SummerResidential

• Mentor ME programme (Pastoral & academic)

• Bespoke visits, Campus Tours

We What next??

John Lennon Imagine Awards at LJMU

• We work with 100+ care-experienced and students estranged from their

family each academic year.

• Dedicated support with a Care Leavers Co-ordinator, Phil Bakstad.

• £3000 Bursary package and Unite Scholarships.

• Our students come from across the UK, with many moving to Liverpool

permanently for the duration of their studies

• Our support is embedded across the whole student experience, with

ongoing commitment from the Executive Management Team and regular

awareness-raising and development opportunities for all staff

• Our students are at the heart of everything we do…

and they tell us that this approach works!

Contact details:

Catherine Shillito

Widening Participation Lead

C.H.Shillito@ljmu.ac.uk

Phil Bakstad

Student Support Coordinator

Imagine@LJMU.ac.uk

Tel. 0151 231 3149https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/discover/student-support/care-leavers