Educational resilience in later life: Resources and assets in adolescence and return to education after leaving school at age 16

Few studies have investigated the factors and processes influencing return to education after leaving school at the minimum leaving age. We explore the role of promotive factors in (1) supporting young people to continue with further education after the minimum leaving age and (2) investigate which resources predict who returns to education or gains further qualifications after leaving school early. Sixty-two percent of the 1958 British birth cohort left school at age 16. Eight percent of early school leavers returned to full-time education. We examine the specific role of educational and personal assets and family resources in supporting young people from socially disadvantaged family backgrounds to stay on in school beyond the mandatory school leaving age. Several factors were found to promote educational resilience among disadvantaged young people, including both personal assets and family resources. Some effects did not manifest themselves until later in life, showing the need to build a reserve capacity of resources and assets before resilient reintegration into education becomes possible.