School Experiences and Postschool Pathways in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Abstract This chapter draws on a mixed methods longitudinal study of a cohort of young adults in Ireland who were followed from their entry to secondary education to their outcomes three to four years after completing upper secondary education. In keeping with previous international research, the study findings show that the main pathways taken by young people reflect their gender, social class background, and academic performance. However, the analyses go further than previous work by indicating the way in which the nature of postschool transitions are firmly embedded in earlier school experiences. In particular, the chapter contributes to the ongoing debate on the effects of school composition to show that school social mix has a very significant impact on postschool outcomes, with those who attended middle-class schools having particularly high levels of participation in higher education. This is consistent with higher education assuming a ‘taken for granted’ quality in middle-class schools. In contrast, young people who had attended working-class schools are much more likely than those in middle-class or socially mixed schools to enter the labor market directly upon leaving school, even taking account of their exam grades. School climate plays an important role, with negative relations with teachers serving to discourage young people from remaining on in any form of education/training. The chapter concludes by highlighting the implications of the findings for our understanding of youth transitions and for policy designed to improve equity of outcomes.