From Leaving CertiFiCate to Leaving SChooL a Longitudinal Study ...

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From Leaving Certificate to Leaving School
In sum, sixth year students were broadly positive about the personal and
social developmental aspects of their education but highlighted the need
for greater preparation for adult and working life, suggesting that a life
skills courses and access to work experience for all students would enhance
their overall educational development.
6.4 Moving Forward: Plans for the Future
International research highlights how young people are now faced with
an increased number of choices in relation to their plans for the future
(for example, Dwyer and Wyn, 2001; Heath and Cleaver, 2003). Some
research suggests that the increased choices available to young people on
leaving school have led to more individualised trajectories, ones no
longer shaped by their gender or social background (see, for example,
Heinz, 2009). Others have argued that for many young people choices
continue to be constrained by their social position (Weis, 2009). This
section examines how the choices that young people’s plans for the future
vary across different student groups. We explore the extent to which
students’ social class and school context influence their plans for the future.
Using survey and qualitative data, we assess the extent to which
students plan for the short or long term and whether they feel in control
of their lives in making these choices. Student fears and doubts about the
future are explored in addition to perceived barriers to post-school progression.
As indicated above, this study captured the opinions of students
during a period of economic prosperity and the authors assume that the
situation today would be quite different in terms of post-school options.
Sixth year students were asked what they were most likely to do after
leaving school. Most of the cohort intended to go on to third-level education
(Figure 6.3). Clear gender differences were evident, with girls more
likely to intend to go to higher education (73 per cent compared with 57
per cent) or another form of education, usually Post-Leaving Certificate
courses (10 per cent). Male students were more likely to plan on apprenticeship
entry (13 per cent compared with 1 per cent). Only a minority of
students (17 per cent of male students and 7 per cent of females) intended
to enter the labour market directly rather than pursue some form of postschool
education and training. The ‘other destinations’ group is mainly