What Factors Influence Students' Subject Choices At As Level?

Abstract Recent educational legislation has aimed to increase the number of students progressing to Further Education. At the core of this legislation has been the principle of 'personalised learning'. The purpose being for students in Year 11 to have access to independent Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to ensure they make informed choices and choose the most appropriate learning pathway. This study was conducted at Taganrog Comprehensive School using a combined qualitative/quantitative approach of questionnaires, journals and individual interviews. A sample of students (n=40) were asked to complete a questionnaire to provide data on the factors that influenced their subject choices at AS level. The questionnaires were supported by individual student interviews (n=6). The data gathered from the questionnaires was analysed by gender and parents' educational and socio-economic background. The data revealed that students were influenced by a range of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The most important factors influencing AS Level subject choices were perceived usefulness of a subject in terms of a future career and enjoyment/interest in a subject while the least important factors included siblings, friends and perceived easiness of a subject. Furthermore the study found that students were exposed to several sources of advice when deciding which subjects to study at AS Level. The findings indicated that the most useful sources of advice were subject teachers, parents and Learning Mentors with the least useful sources of advice being University Admission Tutors, siblings and Grandparents. The data, when analysed by gender and parents' educational and socio-economic background, highlighted several minor differences. It emerged that females were more influenced by university requirements and students from families categorised as being Lower Supervisory and Routine Occupations were more influenced by friends when deciding which subjects to study at AS Level.