Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

54 ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE?Ah they were warning me about it like saying, teachers from the other Leaving,the LCA, you know, it’s a lot different and it’s going to be doing fundraisingstuff like, you know, for your exams and all, that’s the sort of stuff we weredoing, now out of our school activities and, they want you to really apply ourselvesso, no messing, no nothing…yeah they were just being, being nice about it youknow and telling me how different it was like and…I was with all my mates aswell but when I found out what teachers were doing that like, that’s what swayedme a bit more, yeah. (Andrew, 21, completed LCA, apprentice)4.4.5 PEER INFLUENCEGrouping of students according to ability may have importantconsequences for student relationships. Thus students may be more opento influence from close friends who are similar to them in background andschool experiences (Hallinan and Williams, 1990, p. 124). This study foundthat students’ friendships and interactions during junior cycle, particularlyin lower streamed classes shaped aspirations during the decision makingprocess. Nearly 10 per cent of those surveyed stated that they chose LCAbecause their friends were taking it. Peer influence featured strongly in thequalitative interviews but not generally in isolation as many respondents feltthere were combined factors which influenced their decision. Andrew, Jackand Ronan were influenced by their group of friends who had chosen theprogramme at the end of third year:As far as I can remember…some of my mates had already picked it, withouteven saying anything and they, there was two spots left and I was like shit…youknow, I was just trying to follow my mates to be honest, you know what I meanand I was talking with the year head and all and she was explaining thedifference between LCA and the Leaving Cert, as much of me mates were in theLeaving Cert and when I seen how much difference it was then I just decideddefinitely, get me in there you knowDo you think you would have done the Leaving if you know,your friends hadn’t been with you?Yeah, I’d say so, yeah, maybe, they had a pull, we were always together like, weall stood together, you know. (Andrew, 21, completed LCA, apprentice)I was in two minds about doing the real Leaving Cert and that and when I foundout that there was only one of my mates out of the whole lot of them doing it I saidI’d rather I went to LCA and kind of, might get a buzz as well like. (Jack, 23,dropped out of LCA, employed)It was definitely due to a lot of my friends taking it…we had kind of grown closeover the last three years, you know and like, I didn’t really want to go intoanother class with people I didn’t really know too well, plus when they talkedabout it, it seemed pretty interesting. (Ronan, 25, completed LCA,apprentice)Fiona was reluctant to take the LCA as she believed there was a negativeperception of the programme in the school. Some teachers wereencouraging her to do it but she recognised that she could work harder anddo LCE. It was not until she found out about her friends taking it that shemade her decision: