A student who grew up in care and went to six different schools has overcome the odds to graduate from university with a first-class honours degree.

And Ciaran Marshall, who today received his Music Production and Sound Design degree from Keele University, wants to share his story to encourage other care leavers to consider higher education.

According to Government data, just 15 per cent of young people from a care background go to university compared to 47 per cent of their non-care experienced peers. Only 19 per cent of children in care passed English and Maths GCSE in 2022/23, compared to 65 per cent of all pupils. And for those that do attend university, care leavers are 38 per cent more likely to drop out than non-care experienced peers, and those that stay are found to get lower degree classifications.

Ciaran, aged 23, who grew up in Hampshire, went into the foster care system when he was nine years old and moved between multiple homes and schools before joining Keele in 2021 after achieving A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Reflecting on this time, he said: "Life in care is very different to what you could call a regular childhood, and there are lots of hindrances and difficulties growing up. So for me, I had a care order that allowed the local authority to take responsibility of my care, and they were also classed as my ‘corporate parent’. When I tell people about my upbringing and explain it to them, they struggle to understand because they’ve never heard of these things before.

"I had a care audit that said I couldn’t necessarily have physical contact with foster carers, so for example I couldn’t receive a hug like you would from a parent, and that makes you feel really cold and alone a lot of the time, and like an outsider to society because you can’t have the things that people take for granted.

"When I was 16, I was assigned to a personal adviser who advised me on how to become an adult, so you’re expected to grow up and be an adult much sooner than a lot of other people do, and it’s tough.” 

The university was able to support Ciaran during his time as a student. He received a care leavers and estranged student bursary, which helped to support him alongside working part-time in the Students’ Union and was supported by the Student Experience team.

Asked why he thinks fewer care leavers consider higher education compared to other people, Ciaran said: "There's lots of emotional factors involved and often your home life is not stable enough to let you focus on education and want to stick with it, and your grades can suffer as a result. It often feels like there are barriers to university and that it’s just not an option for people in my position, and that’s quite devastating really.

"Out of the 4,200 students with a care background studying at a university in the UK in a three-year period, roughly 780 will pass with a first – which is 0.027% of the university-going population. I do feel proud in one sense but at the same time, that statistic does make you feel alone. If we can get more care-experienced students through the door at university, it's only going to help make them feel safer and more secure, and bring diversity to the debate.

"For me, education allowed me to feel normal. It was in the classroom and at school where I always felt closest to what I wanted to be, because in the classroom I could be the same as everybody else and we were all equal.” 

During his time at Keele, Ciaran received an award from the music production department to work on a music album as a vehicle to raise awareness of loneliness, depression and abandonment, experiences that Ciaran and other care-experienced people have faced.

After graduating, he plans to continue in higher education, taking a Masters degree in Sound Engineering from September. Ciaran hopes one day to set up his own company and record label that promotes music created by children in care but admits to having mixed feelings about graduating.

He said: "I've been moving round all my life so one part of me hates that I’ve got to do it again now. You do yearn for stability and Keele has been my home for the last four years, so I’ll miss it. It’s been the most stable period of my life up to now.

"Being at Keele meant for the first time in my life I could breathe a bit easier. The stakes were lowered for me, which probably sounds strange to most people because they come to university and can feel pressure and stress with exams and assignments. I’ve lived my life on adrenaline, stress and worry and at Keele I’ve only had to think about the academic side of things and not if I’m going to have to move to another foster home, or where I’m going to be living.

"Homelessness is a real trap for care leavers when there’s no safety net, and so many people end up there because there’s not the protection of a family to support you financially, or a home to go back to. I’ve had to work hard alongside my degree in a part-time job to make sure I’m financially stable to continue in my studies.

"I feel like my future is bright now and I’ve got real hope for it. Keele has given me a set of skills that I'll have for life. I’ve met some brilliant people here and made so many friends, it is like one big family. The lecturers as well have been some of the most understanding, brilliant-minded people I’ve met who I will hopefully remain in contact with for the rest of my life. It’s been an unforgettable journey."