Educational Trajectories for Residential Care Experienced Young People are Complex. A Lived Experience Perspective from a Phd Study in Scotland

Ruby Valerie Whitelaw

Research highlights that residential care experienced children and young people in Scotland have poorer educational outcomes than their peers within the wider population. Despite this, poor educational attainment is not inevitable, and further research is needed to increase the understanding of long-term trajectories.

This paper aims to address a gap in contemporary literature that is of benefit to practitioners, academics and policymakers. Despite experiencing adversity, attachment, separation and loss, school attainment data on leaving care only reflects part of the educational journey.

Educational Trajectories For Residential Care Experienced Young People Are Complex. A Lived Experience Perspective From A Phd Study In Scotland