The University of Sheffield is stepping up efforts to improve higher education access among a group that has previously been overlooked in widening participation initiatives.?

Young people who were subject to child protection plans ¨C initiated when there is a serious risk of harm ¨C have some of the lowest educational progression rates in the country, so low that government data is suppressed for confidentiality reasons.

Sheffield has launched an Office for Students-funded project with several charities to explore the barriers and develop interventions that?could help.

It comes alongside renewed emphasis on access by the UK government, with skills minister Jacqui Smith making it clear that this will be a cornerstone of coming reform of the sector, expected to be outlined in a White Paper later this year.

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Universities ¡°have got to go further¡± on access, Smith said at a recent speech to the SKOPE Skills Summit, because there was an ¡°awful lot of untapped talent out there¡±.

Stressing that she wants to see ¡°big picture¡± change, Smith highlighted care leavers as a group that too often misses out on university.

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But children who have been safeguarded have even lower progression rates, highlighted Susie Whigham, interim chief executive of The Brilliant Club ¨C one of the charities, alongside the?London Academy of Excellence Tottenham and Frontline, that are?working on the project ¨C adding that they go on to university in ¡°vanishingly small numbers¡±.

This group is ¡°almost entirely absent from university access schemes and admissions processes¡±, Sheffield highlighted.

Because protection plans typically end when a young person turns 18, their impact is less often understood or considered in initiatives such as contextual admissions.

Mary Vincent, vice-president for education at Sheffield, said universities ¡°have made some real progress in supporting more students from under-represented backgrounds in accessing higher education¡±.

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But, she said, those who have been safeguarded do not receive any support. ¡°We are looking forward to working with specialist charities and partners to explore how best we can support their education.¡±

Meetings were held in Sheffield from 7 to 11 July to hear from those affected and experts who have supported them.

Programmes are expected to be launched in January 2026 and may include targeted support for pupils in schools.

The work will take place across south Yorkshire and in?London, with the help of Imperial College.

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tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com