Students 'focus on social lives'

By Justin Parkinson
BBC News Online education staff

Girls are more likely to value study

Two thirds of teenage students value their social lives above school and college work, a survey suggests.

Meanwhile, almost 60% of 15 to 19 year olds care more about their hobbies than performances at GCSE or A-level.

Researchers from the student-based charity ExamAid found a big gender gap, with girls more likely to value academic performance above social life.

However, a so-called "problem quarter" of all students had "big problems" with adjusting to the needs of courses.

Pressure

Researchers discovered that 28% thought they would not complete at least one of their subjects, and that 25% had found academic work less interesting than expected.

ExamAid's general secretary Bruce Harris said: "The students are feeling under pressure to find the time to do many things. Their lives are very full with all sorts of things.

"They feel pressurised and a need to hold on to these parts of their lives.

"Most of the interviews were carried out near the beginning of the academic year. If they feel that anxious at the beginning of the year, you wonder what will be their reaction later in the year.

"There needs to be more time spent on induction to courses. Something is happening that's creating all sorts of problems."

Of the 2,741 students interviewed, 83% were happy with the number of courses they had chosen.

Some 12% said they had taken on too many and 5% too few.

More than one fifth of those questioned spoke of problems out of school or college, such as having to provide for their families.

Of these, about two thirds thought counselling might be useful.

ExamAid is calling for student motivation to become part of the curriculum for teenagers, along with more clarity about course requirements before they are taken up.

Judith Norrington, of the Association of Colleges, which funds ExamAid, said: "There's a marked need for extra planning to talk about problems. Often this is not provided."