The Child's Voice in School Choice

Abstract

This article reports upon a study based upon a series of interviews with parents drawn from contrasting socio-economic areas which attempts to explore the diversity of roles which children are seen to play in the process of choosing a secondary school. The authors found considerable variation in the level of engagement with the choice process, with some families actively `playing the market', while others were relatively passive. While the child's voice was more likely to be heard when the family had a `passive' relationship with the market, the relationship between parent and child was found not to be a straightforward one and reflected, at most, only partially the differing social and cultural constructions of the concept of choice between the two socio-economic groups. As such the article challenges a number of received wisdoms which have become entrenched in recent times.