The University of Liverpool has been awarded a national quality mark that recognises high standards of support for care experienced students.
The prestigious national award from the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNCEL) is a quality mark for Higher Education (HE) providers that demonstrates the institutions support for the inclusion, success and progression of students. This award recognises the support available to Care Experienced students via academic and professional services colleagues both before they join us and during and after their studies with us.
The term ‘care experienced’ refers to anyone who has been, or is currently, in Local Authority care. The number of Care Experienced students has been steadily rising in England with over 80,000 young people now in care (up from ~70,000 in 2015). Such students often face incredibly difficult social circumstances and lack the same opportunities as their peers, including with regards to HE access and success. The University recognises the barriers these young people face and has endeavoured to provide the support needed to ensure they have the opportunity to access the life changing benefits of studying here.
In particular, NNCEL recognised the service provided for care experienced students prior to their entry into the university as ‘exceptional’, commenting that the university has “very well-established practices and a very clear, structured approach to the support of care experienced applicants”.
The admissions system within the University was also highlighted as an area of good practice, stating that “a strong and well-established approach is evident, placing it firmly within the enhanced category” of the quality standard.
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education, Professor Gavin Brown said: “Care Experienced students are one of the most under-represented groups in HE. The University of Liverpool is committed to working with and supporting Care Experienced students, both prior to entry and throughout their studies with us. We are very pleased that this commitment has been recognised by NNCEL and we will continue to offer quality standards of support for Care Experienced Students.”
Patricia Ambrose, Director of the NNCEL said: “NNECL is delighted to add the University of Liverpool to its list of Quality Mark awardees. Particular highlights within the submission included the University’s well-established and personalised approach to outreach for care experienced young people and its use of data to inform further improvements to its provision.”
In February, the University spoke to Postgraduate Research Student, Amy on her experience of the support on offer from the University of Liverpool:
For further information on University support available for Care Leavers, please visit: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/widening-participation/post-sixteen/careleavers/