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The importance of education

Education is defined as a fundamental right for every child.

Schools in Gloucestershire provide a safe space to support children through education and pastoral care.

  • Development of skills for future employment
  • Interpersonal development, developing social connections
  • Increased visibility of vulnerable children to protective services
  • Developing problem solving, critical thinking and independent decision making skills
  • Improving health through physical activity, personal and social education, nutrition and mental health
  • Feeling empowered and valued
  • Building resilience to improve mental health, learning and development
  • Speech and language skills
  • Development of skills for future employment
  • Interpersonal development, developing social connections
  • Increased visibility of vulnerable children to protective services
  • Developing problem solving, critical thinking and independent decision making skills
  • Improving health through physical activity, personal and social education, nutrition and mental health
  • Feeling empowered and valued
  • Building resilience to improve mental health, learning and development
  • Speech and language skills

Schools provide a safe, secure environment for pupils, and feeling safe is fundamental for children to be able to make friendships and build relationships. If they feel safe, their emotional health will be strengthened as well as their overall feeling of connection and belonging.

This feeling of safety is particularly important for refugee and asylum-seeking children who have a disrupted sense of belonging, being separated from their friends, schools and communities. In the safe environment of school, children are given the chance to learn the skills needed to live fulfilling, independent lives.

In their country of origin and before arriving in the UK, the education received by young refugees and asylum seekers will be of different levels and quality. This is particularly the case for girls where the education available is often restricted due to culture, poverty and laws.

The disruption experienced by children arriving in the UK as refugees or asylum seekers is reflected in their educational achievements. 

Resettled refugee and asylum-seeking children living with family members are estimated to experience a gap in their academic achievement, trailing behind their non-migrant peers by on average 18 months by the time they take their GCSEs.