1. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Do we have any success stories to tell? Marta Korintus Andrea Racz Robert Csak Institute for Social Policy and Labour Budapest, Hungary

2. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union What is success? Success could be defined in terms of the ratio of young people studying in further and higher education Success of the system Success of the individual

3. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Educational promise Young people showing educational promise Systematic approach: Completed compulsory school and Have started on further or higher education Individual approach: Motivated to study

4. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union External factors Related to stable place of care and emotional support Related to good schooling Related to financial support

5. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example Sweden ”The family I ended up with, definitely. Almost everything depends on that. I’ve been so lucky with the family I was placed with. Not many are so lucky…. (…) The second… I think of the help I got at school while growing up… it wasn’t help with dealing with the actual subjects, it was more like help and support in doing it at all …” (Boy, 20, applying for university programme in computer game designing)

6. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example Hungary „The school I attend, I have to pay a fee. The fee is 350 thousand Forints a year but it is paid for me. So, I have always got all the support … If I wanted to do sports, it was paid. They just wanted to see, yes, that I continue and do not quit. And there is the photography: I have received a camera not long ago – that was not cheap either.” (Girl, 20, studying at the University of Applied Arts)

7. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example England Went into care as a baby following sexual abuse by her birth parents. Was adopted by foster carers but went back into care again at age 14. She said she has had about 15 care placements in total. Missed a lot of school due to frequent suspensions; said that she was angry all the time but turned her life around in Year 11 (age 15). She had very good support from her school particularly her Head of Year, Learning Mentor, music and drama teachers, she said that they believed in her and saw her potential/talents (Girl, 21, applying to do a university degree in English Literature and Drama)

8. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Internal factors Related to will, persistence, commitment Related to valuing knowledge Related to building a good future

9. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example Sweden Girl, 20, just been accepted for nursing-course at university: “It’s 45 years to retirement and I will do something I like, God damn it. I don’t necessarily have to become a nurse but I can do alternative medicine, or deviate after university and go into massage, or continue my studies and become a midwife or a operating room- nurse.”

10. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example Hungary „Well, I do not know, but limits are not very extended for children in care. Meaning how far they can push and what kinds of dreams they can have. Therefore: Ok, I will have a low qualified job, maybe I can pass the national secondary school leaving exam – that is all. But I have much more ambitious goals than this.” (Girl, 20, studying at the University of Applied Arts)

11. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example Denmark ”Yes the fact of getting employed in a company and having to climb the ladder does not appeal to me. Well I have been working for two years so I do not have a lot of experience but generally I do not consider unqualified work very appealing, I do not think that want to keep showing my competences all the time. I do not think that I want to work my way up, I will rather take an education and then I can prove that I can something” (Girl, 20, who wants to study communication at Copenhagen Business School)

12. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Success? So far, higher educational attainment and securing an autonomous / independent life can be mostly seen as an individual achievement Comprehensive improvements to ensure better results can be initiated on the level of the system

13. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Example Spain „I have been successful in getting a job, a house, and I am fortunate in general because of my job opportunities and my opportunities to study….- after all the experiences I had, I am so fortunate not to have a depression and to have food on my table everyday.” (Girl, 20)

14. A research project funded by the Framework 7 Research programme of the European Union Improvements needed to ensure better educational levels and better employability Studying/knowledge as value Emphasis on developing competences rather than feeding facts Improving the conditions of providing personal support both in care and education Positive discrimination Financial support Positive models