Institutional Disparities in the Cost Effectiveness of GCE A-level Provision: A Multi-level Approach

Abstract

The paper reanalyses date collected by Thomas in the 1980s. This latter work using teaching group as the unit of analysis illuminated some differences in the cost effectiveness of different institutional types in the provision of GCE A-levels. The approach is now extended through the use of multi-level analysis to focus on individual students in a hierarchical framework. The latter approach in being recommended as the most appropriate in much recent substantive and methodological literature. Individual level and group level input variables are utilized as controls in comparisons. The broad conclusions of the aggregate analyses are confirmed but it is believed the methodology is more soundly based. Among the study institutions, and controlling for the relevent factors, school sixth forms appear less cost effective than institutions devoted solely to education for post-16 year olds.