Choice of high schools: pupils’ perceptions

Summary

The results of two questionnaire studies are reported; these were designed to find out about pupils’ perceptions of high schools and factors important in choice of high schools. The first study was carried out before a final choice of high school had been made, and the second after a final choice had been made.

A total of 97 per cent of pupils reported that they had been accepted at their first choice of high school. Overall, over two‐thirds of pupils surveyed reported having selected a mixed county high school, and just under a quarter had selected a mixed voluntary school. Fewer than one in ten had opted for a single‐sex school. High levels of agreement between the type of school pupils said they would prefer and the type pupils said their parents would prefer were found, with parents and child participating in the process of choosing a high school in the majority of cases. A number of differences between pupils from different ethnic groups were found.

Prospective high school pupils were particularly concerned about bullying, gangs and violence at high schools. Almost all pupils felt that it was important that their selected high school should get good examination results and have good learning facilities. In contrast, in the second study, only around two‐fifths of the pupils felt that the high school at which they had been accepted got good examination results, and just under one‐third felt that it had good learning facilities. A number of differences between the views of girls and boys were found.

In many cases, links existed with pupils’ selected high school–nine out of ten pupils reported that other pupils were going to the same school and three‐quarters said that friends or neighbours went there. Brochures about high schools had been read by seven out of ten pupils, and visits to high schools had been made by just under two‐thirds of pupils. A number of issues of relevance to local education authorities and schools are discussed.