Abstract/Summary

This thesis explores the very high attendance rates at university by students from international schools in comparison to national figures in United Kingdom (UK) schools. It seeks to understand the factors around the student decision making process and how students make sense of these factors when deciding what to do after leaving school and when considering future career pathways. The research followed an interpretive paradigm and uses both quantitative data in the form of a questionnaire to students from Years 5 to Year 13 (age 9-18) and then qualitative data in the form of focus groups with one group per year in the same age groups in one international school situated on mainland Europe with a primary and secondary section. The questionnaires explored student attitudes towards different career and study pathways while the focus groups then explored the responses to gain a deeper insight into student views. The main conclusions of the study are that students in primary school see a variety of career options open to them on leaving school while this changes as the students’ progress through the school until, by Year 13, almost all students consider a professional career after attending university as the next step with many students inferring that university was their only option. Students in the study reported feelings of stress and anxiety due to the narrow options they felt were open to them and the fear of downward social mobility if they failed to achieve the goal of university attendance. Where students considered more than one option for their future career pathways this built in back up plans with these students reporting reduced feelings of anxiety. This research suggests a new approach to Higher Education (HE) advice that would encourage a wider range of careers being promoted in international schools, particularly in more modern or arts related careers and at the same time developing transferable skills with students. Students should be encouraged to consider themselves progressing into different careers to prepare them for the changing nature of future careers and reduce fears around maintaining social position by offering several Higher Education and career pathways.