Issues of student retention: an initial study of staff perceptions

Abstract

This article reviews recent research on the issue of student retention in the further education (FE) sector. It notes that the focus of recent FE-based research has been largely on student attitudes towards retention issues. The article argues that this is an important starting point but that staff attitudes need to be considered more closely if there are to be successful college-based strategies to tackle retention. Using findings from a small case-study of five FE colleges, the article argues that, in the mid-1990s, approaches to tackling student retention have often been hindered by colleges' preoccupation with FEFC funding methodologies. The articles goes on to argue that if colleges are to create a staff consensus on improving student retention, they have to take an education-led, rather than a funding-led approach.