The impact of information and experience on the decision to participate in learning in post-compulsory education

Abstract

The research reported here was commissioned in 2003 by the UK Department for Education and Skills to consider the influence of the school on the decision to participate in learning on completion of compulsory schooling. A national sample of twenty-four schools across the UK participated in this study. Research methods included focus group interviews with 1152 students aged fourteen and fifteen; interviews with head teachers; heads of year and careers advisors in each of the twenty-three schools and parental questionnaires for each student interviewed. The paper considers the findings of the project in terms of the impact of educational interventions on young peoples’ decision making processes and finds that young people require experience of, rather than ‘cold’ information about, their post-school options. Young people seek to gain security and confidence in there decisions, to manage the risks, by gaining first hand experience or relying on trusted relationships and social networks.

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