Daniel Lavelle

Care leavers face significant barriers to higher education, with only about 12% entering university compared with nearly half of the general population. Three students who navigated the care system describe how instability, lack of support and low expectations shaped their educational paths, yet persistence, scholarships and self-belief enabled them to succeed. Researchers and advocates highlight gaps in guidance and awareness of available financial and pastoral support, while education leaders argue for earlier interventions to help children in care view university as a realistic goal. Initiatives such as St Mary’s University’s First Star academy show promise, but broader systemic change is needed to ensure opportunity does not depend on luck.