Post-16 course choice: a challenge for guidance

Some of the findings of a study of young people who had left post-16 educat ion prematurely or switched courses are discussed. The experiences of those who had switched or dropped out from courses once only are compared with t hose who changed courses several times. The main influences on the young pe ople's decisions, the extent to which they felt prepared for their transiti ons, and their views of career education and guidance before the end of yea r 11 and at their post-16 destination, are examined. The findings provide s ome support far the beneficial effects of career education, but for many it seemed that career education and guidance had little impact. Parents, teac hers, friends and the judgements of the young people themselves appeared to be more influential than guidance practitioners on choice of destination. It is argued that it may be unrealistic to expect guidance alone to fully p repare young people for post-compulsory education, particularly when instit utional constraints often require premature closures on choices. Some respo ndents recognised this, and in some ways their limited expectations of care er guidance were realistic. It is also argued that from young people's pers pectives, at least, switching courses often has positive benefits.