Student parents and women’s education

We are looking to fund research, development and pilot projects around the theme of student parents.

We are particularly interested in the development and evaluation of pilot projects, run by intermediary organisations, aimed at improving opportunities for parents to access – and be successfully supported through – further and higher education.

Student parents face a range of challenges including:

• Complex student support and childcare funding arrangements.
• Practical issues of course organisation, timetabling and travel.
• Isolation from the social aspects of student life.

We also know maternal educational background has a significant impact on child outcomes. For example, expenditure decisions, expectations, information and support given to children, choice of neighbourhood or school can all be effected by parental education experience, and all have an impact on children’s education outcomes.

We are keen to examine the intergenerational effect of parents entering or re-entering FE and HE when their children are young. For example, family responsibilities may increase the motivation of parents to improve their education; meanwhile, their status and activity as formal learners may have effects on their children.

Please note we no longer give grants to individual women in higher education for help with the costs of caring for children or adult relatives with special needs.

For information about submitting an application see our how to apply page.