What Can Schools and School Actors Do? The Role of Agency in Tackling Early School Leaving

• In Event: School Community, Climate, and Culture: Pathways to Belonging

Abstract

This paper aims to understand why policies tackling early school leaving in four urban schools, characterized by a similar and socially vulnerable pupil body, seem successful in some schools but not in others. Through a mainly qualitative theory driven stakeholder evaluation with the management of the schools, and a selection of teachers and students, we asked them to reflect on the issue of early school leaving, how these issues could be addressed and how they experienced current policies in their schools. Our analysis shows that rather than the specificity of the 'social vulnerability' of their student population, crucial to make a difference seems to be the sense of agency present among management, and to a lesser extent the teaching staff.

Authors

• Noel Clycq, University of Antwerp

• Lore Van Praag, Antwerp University

• Rut Van Caudenberg, Antwerp University

• Ward Nouwen