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Poor educational outcomes for young people with caring responsibilities

Category
2016 Seminar Series
Date
Date
Wednesday 25 November 2015, 16:00 - 17:00
Location
G.18 (School of Education, Hillary Place, University of Leeds)

Dr. Cathy Brennan (Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds)

Abstract

Conservative estimates suggest there are 175,000 children and young people in the UK with caring responsibilities for a dependent relative. The level and type of care varies between families but up to 20% may be caring for 20 hours or more a week and up to 7% for over 50 hours a week. Caring roles in young people have been associated with poor health outcomes and disruption to schooling which may limit opportunities in later life.

This study explored the association between young people identified as carers and their educational achievement using data from the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE). The results suggest that a young person’s caring role can have a negative impact on their outcomes in compulsory education. Even given the increased likelihood of disadvantage and health difficulties amongst young carers, they are less likely to achieve a recognised minimum standard of educational attainment and this is likely to impact on future life chances.