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Promoting post-16 participation of ethnic minority students from disadvantaged backgrounds: a systematic review of the most promising interventions

See, B.H.; Gorard, S.; Torgerson, C.

Authors



Abstract

There is widespread international concern that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and some ethnic minorities are less likely to continue education or training after compulsory schooling, or are less likely to follow the highest-status and prestigious routes. Based on work done in the UK, this paper presents the results of a systematic review of evidence from 1996 to 2011. The review identified only 14 intervention studies with a robust evaluation, intended to encourage participation and retention in post-compulsory education for disadvantaged ethnic minority groups. Of these, the most promising approaches were the use of extrinsic motivation for behaviour and attendance (payment by results), and the close personal engagement of adult mentors. Both were tried in the USA, and so the paper concludes that they should be adapted for contexts elsewhere, including the UK, and tested carefully. Given limitations of funding for research, other approaches should not receive priority.

Citation

See, B., Gorard, S., & Torgerson, C. (2012). Promoting post-16 participation of ethnic minority students from disadvantaged backgrounds: a systematic review of the most promising interventions. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 17(4), 409-422. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2012.738968

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 17, 2012
Publication Date Dec 1, 2012
Deposit Date Dec 11, 2012
Journal Research in Post-Compulsory Education
Print ISSN 1359-6748
Electronic ISSN 1747-5112
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 17
Issue 4
Pages 409-422
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2012.738968
Keywords Systematic review, Post-16 participation, Disadvantaged backgrounds, Ethnicity, Interventions.