School engagement and life chances 15 & 16

Abstract

In Australia today young people face very unequal life chances. What is the impact of different family situations on young people as they complete secondary school? What are the implications of their engagement with school? What can schools do to promote opportunities for all students?

Young people face many challenges in their transitions from school to further education and to employment. Their engagement with school can play an important role in how they meet these challenges and their lack of engagement is seen as a cause of early school leaving. While education is critical to gaining employment, not all young people benefit from an adequate, let alone ‘good’, education. It is important that we know which young people miss out, why, and what becomes of them in order to inform appropriate policy and service responses.