Background to the Research

• The research update opens by providing background information on the debate surrounding the future of the contentious 11+ exam, which is due to be abolished in 2008.
• Each year, the YLT survey offers all young people in Northern Ireland who celebrate their 16th birthday in the February of that year the opportunity to discuss a range of contemporary social issues.
  

Research Approach

• This research update draws upon the responses to the community relations questions provided by 902 young people who participated in the 2003 YLT survey.
• Respondents completed the questionnaire using either: the telephone, online or by self competition questionnaire.
• In this sample, 47% of respondents attended secondary schools, 45% went to grammar schools and 6% attended planned integrated schools.
  

Main Findings

• Most of the respondents attended highly segregated schools, with 83% of Catholics and 63% of Protestants stating that the majority of the other students were of the same religion as themselves.
• Overall, the majority of the young people were critical of the 11+ exam, with 70% agreeing that it placed too much stress on 10 or 11 year olds.
• However, grammar school pupils were less likely to take this view (56%).
• Respondents did appreciate the role that academic selection plays, with 76% agreeing that 'selection has to happen at some time in a child's education'.
• The majority of respondents reported having a positive educational experience. The benefits included acquiring skills and knowledge to be used in later life (75%), inspirational teachers (64%) and 58% agreed that school opened their minds and made them want to learn.
• Small variations emerged in the views held by pupils attending different types of schools. This was attributed to the greater emphasis placed upon academic success by grammar schools.
• Female respondents had more positive educational experiences than boys.
• Over three quarters of young people (84%) expected to be returning to school or college in October 2003, either on a full or part time basis.
• There was an expectation amongst the respondents that they would still be in education in 2 years time (70%), particularly amongst young women.

Conclusions

• Education remains a segregated sector, with less than 10% of students attending an institution which they themselves estimated had at least 50% of pupils from other religious backgrounds.
• Respondents were highly critical of the 11+ exam.
• Whilst many reported positive school experiences, some young men struggle with it. The authors conclude by arguing that these concerns are shared by educators and policy makers alike.

This Research Update is available on the ARK website.