Looked-after Children / Care leavers
The University is trying to help students break the learning journey from school to college, and eventually to University, down into easy steps. If you are a looked-after child or a care leaver we are aware that there are even greater challenges for you to face.
We're committed to supporting you throughout the journey providing advice and guidance where we can. Our support for care leavers has been awarded the Buttle UK Quality Mark and we try to work with them to identify new ways of supporting you. We offer support for looked-after children in Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (MKOB).
We've broken down the questions into the key learning stages below and also put in some information for those people that work with looked after children and care leavers.
Please note that we have used the terms 'in care', 'looked-after children' and 'care leavers' throughout this piece but if you are uncomfortable with these terms we encourage you to tell us when you speak to us.
I'm in care and under 16
If you are in Years 5-11 at school, live in MKOB and you are currently in care there are a variety of activities that you can access.
WorkshopsHave a look at some of our workshops. Would you like to participate? Want to have a go? We can arrange to deliver to you at school (we just need a teacher's name and we'll contact them for you) or we can deliver to a looked-after children group (let us have the name of your project worker - we'll do the leg work).
Please email Tara Prayag or call 01865 280649 for more information.
I'm in care and in Year 12
Do you think that Oxford could be for you? Why not come along to one of our Open Days and find out more about what it would be like to study and live here? On top of the wealth of information provided by the Colleges and Departments, we would be very happy to answer any further questions about the support available to you as a care leaver, and can arrange a one-to-one meeting while you're here.
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting young people in care, we are pleased to be able to offer a contribution towards the cost of travelling to Oxford to attend an Open Day. This would normally be 80% of the total cost of your bus or train ticket, up to maximum of £100, but decisions will be made on a case by case basis. Please do get in touch to discuss your individual situation.
For details on how to claim this bursary, please email Sian Renwick or call on 01865 270123.
I'm a teacher/virtual head and one of my students is in care/has been in care
If you are a teacher/virtual head working in MKOB call on 01865 280649 or email Tara Prayag to discuss your student.
I'm a Social Worker/Looked-After Children Project Worker
If you are a social worker/ a looked-after children project worker working in MKOB call on 01865 280649 or email Tara Prayag to discuss your ward.
I'm a care leaver (and about to enter Oxford University/already there)
Call James Tibbert in Student Information Services.
E: james.tibbert@admin.ox.ac.uk
T: 01865 286349
