Post‐16 options: young people's awareness, attitudes, intentions and influences on their choice

Abstract

This paper reports a survey of the awareness of, and attitudes to, post‐16 options of young people reaching minimum school‐leaving age as they were assessing the various local opportunities open to them in the sixth form, further education colleges and youth training. Questionnaire data on post‐16 intentions and careers‐related experience were collected from 10 schools (seven maintained (12‐16 and 12‐18) and three independent) in one local education authority (LEA). Interviews which explored attitudes and influences on their choices were undertaken with a representative sample of young people with various intended post‐16 destinations, each paired with a friend. Their views are set in the context of their experience of careers education and guidance as reported by the schools’ heads of careers and attached careers officers. The research design thus enabled qualitative perceptual evidence to be presented within a quantitative framework related to attainment, gender and school type. The research formed part of the diagnostic process of local reappraisal at a time of considerable national and local changes in education and training. Key issues are identified for schools, LEAs, Careers Services and the Department of Employment, and implications for research and policy are considered. Given increased managerial devolution, the involvement of both maintained and independent schools and pre‐ and post‐16 education and training sectors, this initiative and the research indicators may have wider application, serving as a model for further base‐line studies and collaborative ventures in other LEAs.