P.za S.
Ambrogio (ang via dei Pilastri)
50121 – Firenze
Tel.-fax. 055 0114380
N° 134309-LLP-1-20071-IT-Comenius -CMP
School Inclusion Project
Questions for the Interviews
Pag. 1 di 6
10/10/2019
P.za S.Ambrogio (ang via dei Pilastri)
50121 – Firenze
Tel.-fax. 055 0114380
N° 134309-LLP-1-20071-IT-Comenius -CMP
A methodological note
In the meeting in Florence we agreed to analyse 5 cases each in order to identify both the
deepest, actual reasons which cause early school leaving and the best practices to cope
with the problem. The main aim of our project is to promote teachers’ training and provide
them with the tools they need to prevent students from dropping out of school. We chose a
qualitative approach rather than a sociological, statistical one, so the draft we as Cipat had
proposed was left aside. We all agreed to avoid “closed questions” and prepare an
interview with “open” questions to obtain an in-depth study of the problem.
We suggest the interviews should be recorded both for our documentation and to be able
to cite some statements .Public Officers and Head Teachers should receive the list of
questions some days before we interview them as they may need time to do some
research before our interview.
The interview proposed will need to be adapted to the national situation and context by
each partner.
Pag. 2 di 6
10/10/2019
P.za S.Ambrogio (ang via dei Pilastri)
50121 – Firenze
Tel.-fax. 055 0114380
N° 134309-LLP-1-20071-IT-Comenius -CMP
Public Officers
Who within your organisation is responsible for maintaining statistics on school
‘drop outs’?
What information do you or your organisation have on truancy rates? Would you be
willing to share this information with us please?
What are the 3 main reasons for school ‘drop outs’ before the age of 16 within this
region?
What are the 3 main reasons for young people not continuing in education after 16
or dropping out of education between 16 & 18?
What are your main strategies currently in place to identify students at risk and
prevent school drop outs?
What future new strategies are planned to help with the problem?
How does the position locally compare with drop out rates nationally and elsewhere
in Europe?
What are the organisations within this region which work to keep students in
school / on courses?
Can you recommend any current research on this problem which may help with our
project?
Can you suggest any other areas of research which may help with our project?
Pag. 3 di 6
10/10/2019
P.za S.Ambrogio (ang via dei Pilastri)
50121 – Firenze
Tel.-fax. 055 0114380
N° 134309-LLP-1-20071-IT-Comenius -CMP
Head Teachers
How many students who are on your official school register dropped out of school
between the ages of 14 and the end of the compulsory school leaving age in the
last 3 years?
How does the position at this school compare with drop out rates at other local
schools?
How often do you monitor drop out rates?
What contacts do you or colleagues in school have with families of students who
play truant?
What are the 3 main reasons for school ‘drop outs’ within this school?
How do you identify a young person in danger of dropping out of school?
Do you feel that the current educational system has a significant impact on drop out
rates?
What strategies do you have in place to prevent students identified as being at risk,
from dropping out?
What activities do you organise to improve curricular continuity, offer second chance
courses, develop innovative teaching methods in order to cope with the problem?
How important is teachers’ team work to avoid school failure?
How do you monitor and evaluate the actions you have planned / strategies you
have put in place?
What new strategies have you planned to help with the problem in future?
Does the implementation of this strategy depend on the availability of funding?
What part do you think funding plays on your ability to prevent school drop outs?
Can you suggest any other areas of research which may help with our project?
Pag. 4 di 6
10/10/2019
P.za S.Ambrogio (ang via dei Pilastri)
50121 – Firenze
Tel.-fax. 055 0114380
N° 134309-LLP-1-20071-IT-Comenius -CMP
Teachers
How would you describe your relationship with …?
What do you feel where the main reasons why …………….dropped out of school?
How early did you identify any signs ………….. was likely to drop out of school
before he/she actually left?
What were those signs?
How did you react?
How important was it to get a school qualification for ……………? What impact do
you think this will have on his/her future employment prospects?
What strategies did you employ to try to prevent him/her from dropping out?
- Do you use a structured approach for any student at risk?
- Were you professionally supported inside the school or from
outside?
- What second chance activities have you organized?
- How many contacts did you have with his/her family?
- Where you able to maintain a good relationship with the student
and his/her family?
- How have you monitored and evaluated your activities?
With hindsight do you feel there is anything else you could have done to prevent
him/her from dropping out?
What prevented you from applying other strategies e.g. lack of time, lack of training,
lack of resources?
Do you have any new strategies to suggest which you would like to try in similar
situations in the future?
Parents
How would you describe your relationship with your son/daughter?
How was your son/daughter at school?
Why do you feel your son/daughter dropped out of school?
Did you identify any signs which suggested he/she had ‘had enough’ of education?
What were those signs?
How did you react?
What did the school do to try to help?
What more could the school have done which would have helped with the situation?
Did any other external organisations apart from the school contact you to try to help
with the situation?
Has your son/daughter moved on to receive education / training elsewhere?
Pag. 5 di 6
10/10/2019
P.za S.Ambrogio (ang via dei Pilastri)
50121 – Firenze
Tel.-fax. 055 0114380
N° 134309-LLP-1-20071-IT-Comenius -CMP
Student
First name ……………………..
Age ………………………
Where he/she lives ………………(e.g. city centre, village …)
Students (actual early school leavers)
You are the expert to speak about the reasons of dropping put. Can you describe
why you did drop out of your school?
How long did it take you (approximately) to arrive at this decision?
How were your relationships with your teachers and your school friends?
How did they react when they became aware that you were dropping out?
How did the school organization try to meet your needs?
Beyond your teachers did you have contacts with other educational experts inside
or outside the school?
How is your relationship with your parents?
How did they react when they noticed you were dropping out?
What could the school have done to persuade you not to drop out / leave?
What could your parents have done to persuade you not to drop out / leave?
With hindsight do you now feel this was the right decision?
What future plans do you have to participate in education or training?
How do you feel the decision to drop out of education or leave your course will
affect your earnings levels throughout your lifetime?
Students (at risk of becoming early school leavers)
What factors are causing you to consider leaving school early?
What are your main problems? E.g. difficult subjects? The relationship with your
school friends? Lack of interest in studying?
How is the relationship with your teachers?
How is the relationship with your parents?
How does the school organization try to meet your needs?
What/who would help to convince you to remain in the school and take your final
year exams?
What would be your favourite job?
Do the school courses you are following prepare you for that job?
Do you feel that attending school regularly would increase your chances of getting a
good job?
Do you feel teachers are interested in your decisions and want to support you to
achieve what you want in life?
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10/10/2019
