1.2 Higher education and beyond

Many children with good intellectual skills do well in public examinations such as the UK system of GCSEs and A-levels, and some go on to university. Students within all four countries of the UK can obtain an allowance for relevant ‘non-medical’ support, such as a note-taker in lectures and a mentor to assist coping. However, such funding does not continue after graduation.

The young person may be unable to negotiate the complexities of applying for jobs or attending interviews. Even claiming out-of-work benefits may be impossible: forms are often written in complex bureaucratic language that anyone can find a challenge. So even young people with qualifications can find themselves returning to live with their parents or struggling on their own. This may contribute to the high level of mental health issues noted earlier.