Research Evaluation of the Head Start into HE Programme

The University has received a research grant from the Inner Circle Education Trust, which is funding a programme of support for care experienced young people to progress from school through to higher education between 2023-24 and 2029-30. The grant is for a research evaluation of the programme, which is being conducted by gathering qualitative insights from the two cohorts of learners involved in the programme and conducting analysis of data relating to the learners. This is being delivered by Professor Chris Millward and Professor Ian McGimpsey of the University of Birmingham, Patricia Ambrose of the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) and Dr Claire Crawford of the University of Cambridge.

We are seeking a PhD student who would study part-time on a topic relating to the educational progression of care experienced students, whilst working with the team to gather, analyse and communicate evidence from the project during the period between 2025-06 and 2029-30. We anticipate that the research conducted for the project will provide data for the PhD. Candidates should have a first degree and ideally a master’s relevant to education and youth support, and relevant social science mixed methods research skills such as interviews, surveys and data analysis. The successful candidate will also need to demonstrate good relationship building, project management and written and oral communication skills.

Alongside the researcher’s own PhD studies, they will be responsible for:

• Developing positive working relations with the project team and partners in the participating local authority and funder.

• Implementing secure and trusted modes of engagement with the care experienced young people involved in the programme.

• Implementing project procedures including monitoring progress, assessing and mitigating risks, and reporting.

• Arranging, conducting and transcribing interviews, and storing securely all records of them.

• Conducting desk-based review of research in the field.

• Supporting the design and conduct of surveys of CEYP involved in the programme.

• Supporting the design and conduct of data analysis relating to CEYP involved in the programme, including work associated with accessing information from national sources.

• Working with the project team to write up findings.

Funding notes:

The research grant pays for a maintenance stipend plus part-time tuition fees for up to 6 years. For more information, please see our homepage: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/pioneering-programme-to-improve-access-and-progression-for-care-leavers-into-higher-education