Care leavers’ journeys into university: A narrative study examined through a Bourdieusian lens

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of a narrative study exploring the journeys of nine care leavers into university, answering the research question: How do care leavers explain their journeys into university? Care leavers are one of the least represented groups in the university setting. Therefore, examining the journeys of those who do enter the university field is important for understanding how to help raise aspirations and support other care leavers to follow. Recruitment to the study took place across all five universities in the Northeast of England, with nine students from three of these institutions taking part. Individual face to face and telephone interviews were conducted to capture the narratives and these were examined through a Bourdieusian lens, drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of practice, using an experience centred thematic approach. The findings underline the dominant view that university education is culturally desirable and valuable, but also serve to highlight the diversity and complexity of the aspirations and experiences of care leavers’ journeys into university. This research study contributes to the developing evidence base concerned with the educational experiences and trajectories of care leavers, highlighting the need for further research and review of both policy and practice in this area.