University Research

Oxfordshire County Council have commissioned two complementary research studies exploring the educational experiences and aspirations of displaced children and young people in schools in the county: one exploring young people's experiences within secondary schools, and a second exploring post-16 provision, including education and career guidance.

Oxfordshire County Council have commissioned the University of Oxford’s Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS) to lead a research programme, exploring the educational needs and aspirations of newly arrived 16-19 year olds on the three humanitarian schemes from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Hong Kong. 

The aim of the project is to support Oxfordshire County Council with implementing clearer and more informative pathways to tailored education/career guidance for newly arrived young people aged 16-19 as many older teenagers arriving in the UK struggle to access the relevant education and training they need to fulfil their aspirations. 

The research team are keen to speak to staff in schools/colleges and young people across Oxfordshire to gain a better understanding of the current provision for refugee and displaced young people aged 16-19, how the current services meet young people’s needs and the practical steps which could be put in place to support young people with reaching their potential and ultimately have meaningful and fulfilling lives and careers. 

Refugee Education UK (REUK) are exploring the experiences of refugee and asylum seeking children and young people (aged 11-18) in secondary schools in the county. The study is looking at the experiences of children and young people that have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine on humanitarian schemes, as well as the experiences of refugee children and asylum seeking children who have arrived via other routes. 

There is an additional focus on the inclusion of refugee children with special educational needs (SEN). The study aims to identify strategies that secondary schools and local authorities in Oxfordshire can put in place in order to promote inclusive secondary education for current and future refugee students. 

If you have refugee and migrant children on your school roll and would be interested in having an initial conversation with the researchers to find out more about the research projects, please get in touch with Lucy Leon at lucy.leon@compas.ox.ac.uk and Alice Robinson at alice.robinson@reuk.org. 

If you wish to have a conversation or need any clarification, please contact David Lewis, ESOL and Employment Consultant, at david.lewis@oxfordshire.gov.uk