Changes in Preference for and Perceptions of Relative Importance of Subjects During a Period of Educational Reform

This research formed phase 1 of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) project 'Pupils' Approaches to Subject Option Choices' and is a near repeat of a project carried out in the mid-1980s, thus allowing for a comparison of approaches to subject choice a decade apart, comparing the situation pre- and post-National Curriculum implementation. The simple two-part questionnaire, completed by 1600 children in 11 schools, shows the differences across time and between-school differences in subject preference, but little instability in perceptions of subject importance. Some useful additional data, giving student's reasons for liking subjects and finding subjects important, were obtained from interviews in four schools which formed phase 2 of the project. Comparisons are drawn with the data collected in 1984 on a similar basis. Issues of concern are highlighted with respect to particular subjects and to students' stated reasons for liking subjects or finding them important, with regard to how this might relate to their subsequent subject choices and career development.