Participation in Post-Compulsory Schooling in Scotland.

This report on young persons' access to higher education in Scotland attempts to determine whether the incidence of students' transition from S4 to voluntary participation in S5 is influenced by the transitions that occur at the end of S5. The project analyzed data from a 10% sample of the S4 cohort of 1983/84. The central question examined whether an earlier transition to higher education is associated with a higher-than-expected transition from S4 to S5. The study found that, compared to Scotland overall, there was a higher voluntary continuation rate in the Strathclyde region both before and after allowing for the individual characteristics that influenced transition. This effect, however, was apparent only for pupils with five or fewer A-C awards at O-grade in S4. The"Strathclyde effect" in voluntary continuation was reduced but remained substantial after controlling for the higher local unemployment rate and could not be explained by the effectiveness of denominational/non-denominational schools. The research left undecided the question of whether the Strathclyde effect resulted from the fact that post-compulsory courses in Strathclyde are more often terminated after 1 year. The report presents conclusions and outlines the likely consequences of any 2-year post-compulsory course for voluntary participation. (10 references) (JDD)