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In 1996 the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) undertook two complementary studies and a literature review of research from 1988 to 1997 [available in VOCEDplus at TD/INT 60.146], to examine factors influencing the decisions of young people in relation to post-16 education in the United Kingdom (UK). The first study [available in VOCEDplus at TD/INT 60.147] focused on Year 12 students who intended to continue in full-time education at the age of 16 and this second study focused on Year 11 and Year 8 students who intended to leave full-time education at the age of 16.

This report focuses on young people who decided to leave full-time education at the age of 16 and is based on the findings of a survey of students in Years 8 and 11 in secondary schools in England. It compares the opinions and attitudes of students who intend to leave full-time education on completion of compulsory schooling with those of students planning to continue with education. The research explored students' reasons for deciding to leave or continue in full-time education at the age of 16 and the factors influencing their decisions, their perceptions of any career guidance they received and their attitudes towards school and education. The report begins by presenting background information about previous studies of the factors affecting the choice of post-16 options. These have focused on various aspects including academic attainment, social class, gender, ethnicity, school influence, career advice, unemployment rates and types of work available in the students' local area, local differences in post-16 destinations, and the influence of educational reform. The report then focuses on the decision to leave full-time education and examines the link between careers advice and guidance and the students' decisions about leaving or staying in full-time education. The focus then moves to the relationship between students' attitudes towards education and work and their post-16 choices before summarising the findings. Show less

In 1996 the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) undertook two complementary studies and a literature review of research from 1988 to 1997 [available in VOCEDplus at TD/INT 60.146], to examine factors influencing the decisions of young people in relation to post-16 education in the United Kingdom (UK). This first study focused on Year 12 students who intended to continue in full-time education at the age of 16 and the second study [available in VOCEDplus at TD/INT 60.148] focused on Year 11 and Year 8 students who intended to leave full-time education at the age of 16.

This report focuses on young people who decided to stay on in full-time education past the age of 16. The report is based on the findings of a survey of Year 12 students in three different types of full-time educational provision, school sixth forms, sixth form colleges, and further education (FE) colleges in England. The survey sought student responses about their reasons for remaining in full-time education, information about the course they were currently undertaking and their opinions about it, the reasons for their choice of course and institution, future career plans, and any information and guidance they had received about post-16 education. The second stage of the research comprised follow-up interviews with students designed to extend the survey data and enable exploration of some key issues related to young people’s choices of courses and institutions for post-16 study. The report begins with a description of other studies in this area and the details of this research study. The following section focuses on the young people who participated in the survey and outlines their future plans. The report then presents student perceptions of factors influencing their post-16 course and institutional choices and the quality of the information and guidance they received about these options and future careers. The concluding section highlights the main conclusions and implications from the study findings. Show less