Participation by 17 year olds: a systematic review of the factors that influence participation in the second year of post-compulsory education or training.

This review of research arises from interest at ministerial level (Minister of State for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning) about participation in education and training by young people in England aged 17. It marks an important step beyond our understanding of participation by 16 year olds, the age group for which education ceases to be compulsory.

The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) was asked to undertake the review by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). This review is the result of work by two groups, the LSDA review team comprising Andrew Morris, Team leader; Nicholas Houghton, LSDA research; Ian Lockhart , LSDA research; Colin Clarke, LSDA library; and the Project Advisory Group including: Philip Barker, City of Bristol College; Allan Chesney, LSC; Professor Karen Evans, Institute of Education, University of London; Lindsey Fidler, Financial Adviser, National Union of Students; Caroline Mager, LSDA; Sue Maguire, Centre for Research in Social Policy; Mitchell Miller, Scottish Further Education Unit; Professor David Raffe, University of Edinburgh; Sue Taylor, LSDA; Professor Lorna Unwin, The Centre for Labour Market Studies, University of Leicester and Tom Wylie, Chief Executive, National Youth Agency.

The report has two products: a detailed description of the kinds of research that have addressed this question (a descriptive map) and an in-depth synthesis of the findings of research that best addresses this question. The review was carried out using transparent and replicable methods.

Gaps were identified in research coverage that need to be tackled. The report concluded that attempts to improve participation at 17+ would need to consider the effect of offering courses that terminate after one year to 16+ year olds and that the labour market clearly has a considerable influence, in particular through whether or not a qualification is required to work in a particular job.