|
Participation rates
at sweep 1:
|
|
Mainstream
school |
Independent
school |
Special school |
Total |
|
No. of schools
eligible to take part |
23 |
14 |
12 |
49 |
|
No. of first
year pupils enrolled at all eligible schools |
3803 |
948 |
95 |
4846 |
|
No. of schools
agreeing to participate |
23 |
8 |
9 |
40 |
|
No. of first
year pupils attending participating schools |
3803 |
594 |
71 |
4468 |
|
No. of first
year pupils opted out of the study by parents |
122 |
20 |
9 |
151 |
|
No. of first
year pupils who were eligible cohort members |
3681 |
574 |
62 |
4317 |
|
% of first
year pupils who were eligible cohort members |
96.8% |
60.5% |
65.3% |
89.1% |
The final eligible
cohort at sweep one was 4317, which represented 89.1% of all first year
school pupils eligible to have taken part in the study. There is evidence
of some non-participation bias, as the proportion of those attending
independent and special schools that were not included in the study is far
lower than the proportion attending mainstream secondary schools. Given the
small number, it is unlikely that the proportion of potential cohort members
missed at special schools would have a dramatic effect on the overall
findings of the study. However, albeit outwith our control, it is
acknowledged that excluding 39.5% of the independent sector has implications
for the validity of the study.
All new pupils
joining the target year group up to the end of sweep three were invited
to participate in the study. It was also decided that any pupils leaving the
Edinburgh area altogether would not be tracked (with the exception of those
going to local authority funded special or residential schools outside
Edinburgh). From sweep four, it was agreed that there would be no further
changes to the membership of the cohort of 4389.
Further information on participation rates for
sweeps one to four can be found in the
technical reports. | 