Rathmell, Miranda and Warin, Jo (2023) I am more than a piece of paper. Listening to young people as they reflect on their lived experience of being in care and attending school. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
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Abstract
Children in residential care are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Removed from their families and placed in the care of the state, these children deserve the best care and education experience that we can provide for them. For all children, education should be a rich tapestry of learning, building relationships and experiencing new opportunities. However, research literature indicates that our care experienced children do not achieve as well as their peers in education. Government statistics demonstrate that these children often do not meet their potential in measurable outcomes favoured by the government. This can result in poorer outcomes in later life. The move from family to residential care should be a protective factor for children that allows them to grow up in a place of safety, a place of care. In turn, a more stable home life should result in increased success in school. This is not always the case. This study used the qualitative method of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyse data from interviews with ten care experienced young people. These children shared the experience of living in residential care during their school years. The voice of the child is central to this study and its findings complement the existing body of literature that has care experienced children at its heart.