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This research was commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) to explore how young people make the educational choices required of them at ages 14 and 16. It explores the ways in which structural contexts and individual attributes interact both before and during the decision-making process. This report focuses specifically on such interactions in order to explore more fully the processes by which young people make decisions about subjects to study in Key Stage 4 and post-16 and about destinations at age 16, and the influences upon those decisions. Two waves of in-depth interviews were held with 165 young people across 14 schools between February 2005 and February 2006. The analysis focused on characterising each of the case-study schools in terms of the structure, ethos, curriculum offer, support mechanisms and local situation, in order to contextualise how young people were making decisions. The research identified various issues associated with student choice and decision-making, particularly issues related to the structure and nature of the curriculum on offer (both pre- and post-16) and the provision of support for transition amongst young people. These have implications across a number of policy areas, both in terms of the support needs of young people and for the operation of particular policy initiatives.