ABSTRACT
The secondary school preferred by the parents was in fact extremely variable, illustrating again that families differ in their preferences for education and schooling even within the kinds of constrained choices that are on offer. Nearly nine out of ten parents had visited secondary schools. Frequently mentioned sources of information about secondary schools were friends, parents of children at secondary school, children and parents of children at their preferred secondary school. More parents of boys than girls reported that an important factor in their choice of secondary school for their child was that they liked what they saw. The most frequently mentioned factors that pupils endorsed as important reasons for wanting to go to a particular secondary school were a good education, good art facilities and friendly teachers. Parents have to make some kind of compromise rather than be in full control over their child's life and future, including education.
