The University of Bradford is participating in a new quality framework pilot project for institutions that work with young care experienced people.

The quality mark, which was developed by the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), was launched at the House of Lords on 22 May 2019.

Delivered in partnership with UPP Foundation, the project will create a working accreditation process to develop and test a new quality framework that will improve access, retention and support for people who have been in care and now study at colleges and universities.

Assessments at the pilot institutions – which also include Edge Hill University and Halesowen College – will be held throughout October and November 2019. Feedback from them will be used to finalise the framework ready to roll out across England in spring 2020.

It is a major step towards a national accreditation scheme for institutions working with young care experienced people.

The quality mark builds on the Care Leaver Covenant, the Department for Education’s ‘Principles to guide higher education providers on improving care leavers access and participation in HE’, the gold standard criteria developed by the Centre for Social Justice and First Star Academies, and recent guidance published by the Office for Students.

Read more about NNECL’s quality framework pilot project here.