Evaluation of the National Youthreach Programme

This report provides a comprehensive evaluation of the National Youthreach Programme. Commissioned by the Further Education and Training Authority (SOLAS), the study is part of an agreed schedule of independent evaluations of key Further Education and Training (FET) provision under the Department of Education and Skills-led FET Strategy 2014-2019 Implementation Plan. Established in 1989, the Youthreach programme continues to be the government's primary response to early school leaving by providing second-chance education for young people who leave mainstream second-level school before Leaving Certificate level. Reflecting the multiple challenges (including socio-economic disadvantage and special educational needs) faced by many Youthreach learners and the necessity to capture a broader range of outcomes in assessing programme effectiveness, this study adopts a mixed methods approach combining survey data on centres as well as in-depth interviews with staff and learners. The report emphasises the voice of young people who have disengaged from school by capturing their views about the Youthreach programme.

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