Tithe an Oireachtais An Comhchoiste um Oideachas agus Scileanna An Chéad Tuarascáil Fanacht san Oideachas: Bealach Nua Chun Tosaigh Tosca Scoile agus Tosca Lasmuigh den Scoil is Cosaint ar an Scoil a Fhágáil go Luath Bealtaine 2010 ___________________________ Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills First Report Staying in Education: A New Way Forward School and Out-of-School Factors Protecting Against Early School Leaving May 2010 2 Table of Contents Foreword by the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, Paul Gogarty, TD ........................................................................................................................ 5 Preface ................................................................................................................................ 7 Membership of Expert Group ............................................................................................. 9 Acknowledgements............................................................................................................ 11 Executive Summary........................................................................................................... 19 E.1. Overview ..........................................................................................................19 E.2. Aims .................................................................................................................20 E.3. Design...............................................................................................................20 E.4. Statistical Picture on Early School Leaving .....................................................21 E.5. Existing Research on Early School Leaving ....................................................21 E.6. Supports Relevant to a Consideration of Early School Leaving ......................23 E.7. Statistical Analyses of Early School Leaving (Phase 1) ..................................24 E.8. Interviews With Target Groups (Phase 2)........................................................26 E.9. Analysis of Written Submissions (Phase 3) .....................................................27 E.10. Conclusions and Recommendations...............................................................28 Examples of Positive Initiatives Identified in the Study.................................................... 29 Chapter 1: Background to the Present Study ................................................................... 31 1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................31 1.2. Study Design and Timeline...............................................................................32 1.3 Why is Early School Leaving a Problem and How is it Defined in This Study? ..................................................................................................................................33 1.4. Extent of Early School Leaving in Ireland .......................................................35 1.5. The Current Economic Climate ........................................................................39 1.6. Structure of the Present Report.........................................................................39 Chapter 2: Review of Research on Early School Leaving in the Irish Context................ 41 2.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................41 2.2. Background Characteristics Brought to Educational Settings..........................42 2.3. Features of Educational Settings Relevant to Engagement/Disengagement ....62 2.4. Background and Personal Characteristics in the Context of Schools...............73 2.5. Evidence for Returns on Investment in Education ...........................................75 2.6. Conclusions.......................................................................................................78 Chapter 3: Current Supports Relevant to a Consideration of Early School Leaving ...... 83 3.1. Introduction.......................................................................................................83 3.2. Current Educational Supports Relevant to a Consideration of Early School Leaving ....................................................................................................................84 3.3. Summary of the Key Challenges Arising for Policy and Provision ...............137 3 Chapter 4: Phase 1 Results: Empirical Analysis of School Retention Rates and Student Early School Leaving Intent............................................................................... 141 4.1. Introduction.....................................................................................................141 4.2. Description of Empirical Data Sources...........................................................141 4.3. Aims of the Analyses......................................................................................143 4.4. Variables Considered......................................................................................143 4.5. Strengths and Limitations of the Analyses .....................................................146 4.6. Method ............................................................................................................147 4.7. Respondents: Students in PISA 2003 and PISA 2006....................................149 4.8. Results Section One: Retention Rates at Post-Primary Level ........................149 4.9. Results Section Two: Descriptive Analyses of Student Early School Leaving Intent ......................................................................................................................155 4.10. Results Section Three: Multilevel Models of Student Early School Leaving Intent ......................................................................................................................158 4.11. Results Section Four: Reasons for Intending to Leave School Early ...........163 4.12. Summary and Conclusions ...........................................................................168 Chapter 5: Phase 2 Results: Themes Arising from Interviews ....................................... 175 5.1. Introduction.....................................................................................................175 5.2. Participants and Interview Methods................................................................175 5.3. Strengths and Limitations of the Analyses .....................................................177 5.4. Main Themes ..................................................................................................177 5.5. School-Based Themes.....................................................................................178 5.6. Broader Themes..............................................................................................198 5.7. Conclusions.....................................................................................................216 Chapter 6: Phase 3 Results: Themes Arising from Written Submissions ....................... 221 6.1. Introduction.....................................................................................................221 6.2. Main Themes ..................................................................................................222 6.3. School-Based Themes.....................................................................................223 6.4. Broader Themes..............................................................................................234 6.5. Conclusions.....................................................................................................248 Chapter 7: Conclusions and Recommendations............................................................. 255 7.1. Introduction.....................................................................................................255 7.2. Principles Underlying the Recommendations.................................................256 7.3. Recommendations...........................................................................................257 References....................................................................................................................... 271 Appendix 1:30th Dáil Joint Committee on Education and Science................................ 287 Appendix 2: Orders of Reference.................................................................................... 291 Appendix 3: Technical Details Relating to Chapter 4.................................................... 297 Appendix 4: Individuals Assisting with Phase 2 Interviews ........................................... 309 Appendix 5: Focus Group Interview Schedules.............................................................. 313 Appendix 6: Individual Interview Schedules................................................................... 319 4 Foreword by the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Education and Skills, Paul Gogarty, TD The Joint Committee on Education & Science was established in October 2007. In 2008 the Committee identified early school leaving as a priority issue. Arising from this the Committee decided to produce a report on the issue. In July 2008, the Committee appointed a Member of the Committee, Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, to produce a report on behalf of the Committee. The report, as amended, was agreed. The Joint Committee would like to thank Senator Healy-Eames for producing such a comprehensive and timely