School students' learning from their paid and unpaid work

Abstract

This project addresses a major research gap: the lack of any large scale research into the overall learning experiences of young people in workplaces. The four research questions devised for this study are: (1) What is the extent and nature of the way in which Year 10 and Year 12 school students experience the workplace? (2) What is the nature and relative importance of learning gained from these experiences? (3) Are there variations in the way in which different equity groups access these experiences and learning? (4) What effects do such experiences of the workplace have on later access to employment and higher education? A literature review, mainly of Australian material but including some works from the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK), was carried out. A questionnaire which received 1451 responses was administered to Year 10, 11 and 12 students in 13 schools in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA). Case studies were carried out in five schools including interviews and focus groups with students and teachers, as well as interviews and focus groups with employers. This report outlines the findings from each stage of the research process and draws some conclusions, which have clear policy implications, from the findings.