National School Leavers Survey, 1977

The 1977 survey comprised 40 percent of young people who left Scottish secondary schools in 1975-6, including independent and grant-aided schools, but not special schools. It was designed as part of a “Collaborative Research Programme” which enabled participation in research by a wide range of people interested in education, including teachers, careers officers and administrators. The survey covered a broad range of school leavers, including 'non-certificate' pupils as well as those with Highers and O-grade qualifications, and was designed to collect data for analyses of local topics of interest to collaborators; ie the data should be able to support studies of particular areas, subjects, types of institution or jobs, and so on. Major variable categories include: survey administration, demographic variables, H and O subjects, academic history and results, attitudes to schooling, study habits, discipline, reasons for leaving, work, recreational facilities, further education.