Post-16 Transitions: a Longitudinal Study of Young People with ...

Figure 7:1: Qualifications gained (all groups)
Percent
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 or more
GCSEs grades
D-U
1-4 GCSEs
grades A-C
Other
qualifications
5 or more
GCSEs grades
A-C
NVQs/GNVQs
Don't
know/can't
remember
No qualifications
Qualification
Source: IES/MORI 2003
7.2 Soft outcomes
Most young people report several ‘soft outcomes’ since
leaving school (Table 7.1). Approximately three-quarters, or
more, of all young people have said that they:
• have as many, if not more, friends than in Year 11
• have mainly enjoyed their activities since Year 11
• feel their activities since Year 11 will help them in the
future
• have clearer ideas of what they want to do in the future
than when they were in Year 11, and
• feel more independent now than they did in Year 11.
However, one in 10 young people also reported that they feel
less confident now than they did when they were in Year 11,
and two in 10 say they feel less certain about their future than
they did in Year 11.
The only key differences in soft outcomes were observed
amongst young people who had attended a special school who
were less likely to have a clearer idea about what they wanted
to do in the future than they did in Year 11 when compared to
those who had attended a mainstream school (62 per cent
compared to 77 per cent respectively). Young people from
special schools were also less likely to feel an increased sense
of independence since Year 11 when compared to those from
mainstream schools (78 per cent compared to 90 per cent).
Post-16 Transitions of Young People with SEN: Wave 2 111