Understanding the Impacts of Time in Care on Educational Attainment of Young Adults Aged 16-18 in England

In many countries, the educational attainment of looked after children is far below that of the general child population. However, how being in care influences children's educational attainment is not clear. In this project, by applying advanced quantitative methods to the linked administrative data from Growing Up in England (GUiE), I examine the association between being in care and educational attainment, investigate if being in care causes poor educational attainment, and find out how different elements of care experience associate with looked after children's educational attainment. Results from this project will provide guidance to policymakers and practitioners to hold the care system accountable for providing children with opportunities to succeed.