Education of C&YP in RC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are the barriers and enablers to educational success for children and young people in residential care in Northern Ireland?
IRAS ID
360420
Contact name
Paul McCafferty
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Enterprise Directorate
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Question:
What are the barriers and enablers to educational success for children and young people in residential care in Northern Ireland?
Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) (UNCRC) states that children have the right to an education and that education should be provided on an equal opportunity basis. However, children in residential care have the lowest educational outcomes of all children in care (Sebba et al., 2015, p.28). For example, in Northern Ireland, 50% of children in residential care aged 16-18, leave care with no qualifications (Department of Health, 2024).
Furthermore, there are limited studies that discuss the barriers and enablers to educational success for children and young people in residential care. Specifically, there are even fewer studies which seek to understand the barriers and enablers to educational success through the perspectives of children and young people in residential care as well as from residential staff in regard to supporting the education of children and young people in residential care.
This study aims to conduct a maximum of 18 semi-structured interviews with children and young people in residential care within the Belfast Trust and a maximum of 18 residential staff members. This study also aims to conduct a focus group with residential staff to sense check data from the semi-structured interviews.
A qualitative approach is being used as the study aims to understand the personal experiences of young people and staff on an in-depth level making it the most appropriate research method (Hammarberg et al., 2016).
This study will be co-designed with young people from VOYPIC. While not participants in this study, these young people will ensure that the participant information sheet and consent form are age appropriate to ensure fully informed consent and will co-create the semi-structured interview questions.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
25/NI/0163
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion