Raising young peoples’ aspirations is often seen as one way to address the concerns of educational achievement and social inequality, but the question of how this contributes to strong work and educational outcomes is not well understood. Research undertaken by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation challenges the notion that young people in disadvantaged areas have low aspirations.
The authors conclude that policy needs to go beyond assumptions about young people in disadvantaged communities having low aspirations. Instead it should tackle barriers to fulfilling them, with tailored policies for particular areas. In addition, better information and support is required to support young people and their parents’ in understanding how schooling, post-compulsory education and work fit together. The research found that:
- Young people had high aspirations. Indeed, they wanted to go to university and attain professional and managerial jobs in greater numbers than the labour market could fulfil.
- The period between ages 13 and 15 was critical, and the importance of where young people lived and the support that was available to them there was underlined by changes in their ambitions over time; and
- Parents’ and young peoples’ knowledge of the pathways through education and employment to realise ambitions was limited, this resulting in young people not achieving their potential.
This research was undertaken by Prof Keith Kintrea and Prof Ralph St Paul from Glasgow University is part of JRF’s wider poverty and education programme.
Building on this theme are several resources we have developed which speak to issues around educational engagement.- Audio Series, Staying on Course: Educational engagement and re-engagement.
- Champions for Children: School inclusion for all children
- Champions for Children: The Educational Performance of Children in Need and Children Looked After
- Handbook: On the Path to Success: Promoting engagement in learning at Key Stage 3
- Research Review: Disengagement and Re-engagement of Young People in Learning at Key Stage 3
- Also our last e-bulletin linked to a resource bundle around families with complex needs. This can be found here
