White Working Class Males in British Higher Education suggests that respondents can see the value of education but are not as engaged in their current learning as they could be .
100 % 90 % 80 % 70 % 60 % 50 % 40 % 30 % 20 % 10 % 0 %
86 %
72 %
74 %
I enjoy my current studies
100 % 87 %
85 %
I am keen to learn new or different things
81 % 74 % 73 %
I work hard in my current studies
95 %
93 % 90 % 88 % 90 %
86 %
It ' s good to be seen as hardworking at school / college
POLAR Q1-2 POLARQ3-5 All areas incl POLAR unknown
Studying hard will help me achieve my career goals
Figure 24 : Attitudes to learning - agreement with statements (% who agree / strongly agree ) by POLAR3 quintile
The majority of learners in the focus groups also demonstrated a positive attitude to learning and their studies , although this was not the case for all . As part of the sessions learners were asked to discuss their response to the statement ‘ It is good to be seen as hardworking at school ’ and it was striking that all year 10 / 11 ( FG2 ) participants moved towards the strongly agree end of the line , with several expressing enjoyment in learning :
I ’ ll get a better job ; I want to learn .
I want teachers to notice that I ’ m improving ; The more work you put in the more you get out .
FE college participants also generally agreed that it was positive to be seen as a good student at college . However , when asked about their enjoyment of learning they tended to be more neutral and some actively disagreed :
I can ’ t stand it . I like the practical side .
The data suggests that this group of learners generally hold positive attitudes to learning and are happy to be viewed as hardworking . Some may not be fully engaged in their current learning but most are positive about future opportunities .
“ I want teachers to notice that I ’ m improving ; The more work you put in the more you get out .” --focus group participant
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