Schools can be hugely influential in students’ choices about higher education, irrespective of the grades they achieve, research has found.
The Study led by WISERD’s Professor Chris Taylor followed the educational pathways of all Year 11 pupils across Wales between 2005 and 2007. When the only variable factor was the school they went to, the findings reveal that young people with the same grades made very different decisions about whether or not they went to university.
All the findings of this study can be found in the ‘The effect of schools on school leavers’ university participation’ paper which can be found here.
The BBC have also shown interest in this story and have reported the story along with an interview with Professor Chris Taylor which can be found here