The purpose of this investigation was to determine sociopoli tical factors related to students' attitude towards school. A questionnaire was compiled based on the literature study and was completed by 306 students doing standards eight, nine and ten at a secondary school in Benoni. Five socio-political factors were identified, namely: school experience, extrinsic motivation, pedagogical deprivation, political socialisation and school administration. The empirical study revealed: * A positive attitude towards school by the research group. * Significant correlations between attitude towards school and the five independent variables. * No significant difference in attitude towards school of: boys and girls, standard eight, nine and ten students and students staying with parents or with guardians. * The maximum variance in attitude towards school explained by a combination of variables is 43.2%. Recommendations are made for the enrichment of the family and school environments and areas of possible future research postulated. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

本研究之研究目的為以「經濟弱勢兒童」為對象、「學校生活經驗」為範疇，試圖「由兒童個體本身」出發，探究經濟弱勢兒童的學校生活經驗（對學校的態度、人際適應、學習適應、常規適應及自我概念情形），期能穿透經驗地了解經濟弱勢兒童的想法與感受，由其立場、角度體察其在教育歷程中的需要，以提供教育工作者及福利政策實務更多來自經濟弱勢兒童本身的觀點。 本研究採「質性研究方法」與「個案研究方法」，以參與觀察為主，訪談與實物蒐集為輔，蒐集一位來自經濟弱勢家庭的國小高年級兒童的學校生活經驗相關資料。分析後依序呈現其在學校生活經驗的諸多面向—對學校的態度、人際適應、學業適應、常規適應及自我概念情形。 來自經濟弱勢家庭的故事主角，透過各種生理、行為及心理上的表現，表達對學校內畏懼事務的無力與恐懼，形成對學校「懼學、拒學」的態度。而長期遲到及未能持續上學，不只影響了她的學習表現，更使其從班級活動中漸漸被排除，尤其當老師視其為特殊分子而以標準外的態度相待，即使是出自善意，卻使弱勢者的處境更形孤立，同儕對其弱勢身分的烙印更加強烈，班級裡的「社會排除」使其由主流分離，面臨了更加邊緣的弱勢處境。然而，老師的愛心關懷、善意協助卻無助改善其學校生活，中產階級與經濟弱勢階級的價值差異及未經理解的企圖改變，致使師生間未能產生實質交流，本故事的主角依然朝氣蓬勃地拒絕上學。而逃避上學的結果則使其在學習上不得輪迴的永處失敗區，儘管在看似絕望的學習態度下，偶仍有學習動機，但面對強大、難以招架的習得無助感，幾乎使她喪失信心，失去勇氣，形成對上學無助又無奈的態度。在常規適應上，安份守己、「不會惹事」是她最引以為豪的事，然而所謂的安份守己、「盡量」不惹事卻也隱含了對同學欺侮和輕蔑態度的忍耐壓抑，及對學校或老師能主持正義或終止欺凌失去信心。此外，長期處於孤單、被排除及習得無助感的打擊，面對學校生活，她也出現抑鬱、自我貶抑的情況。 最後，除了對研究初衷的反省與思考，亦分別對教育實務與後續研究提出若干建議。在教育實務上，除設置「學校社會工作師」協助家庭、教師和學校整合地處理弱勢兒童問題外，亦可減輕教師教學事務負擔，以增進班級導師和經濟弱勢學生的互動品質，而教師亦應試以「轉化型知識份子」的角色，協助經濟弱勢兒童自我增能，並思考如何突破種種結構體制上的限制，創造一個可協助弱勢者「增能」的學習體制。在後續研究上，建議未來相關研究，可在理解之虞，更進一步探究學校場域中，教師和經濟弱勢兒童的師生關係、互動歷程及在互動歷程中如何協助其增能的可行策略，並對經濟弱勢兒童的街頭世界進行認識與理解。 / The purpose of this study is to explore the school experience (including attitude toward school, interpersonal adaptation, academic adaptation, regulation adaptation, and self-concept) of an economically disadvantaged child who is a high-grade elementary school student from a low-income family. Educators and welfare policy makers can refer to this study to better understand the outlook and feelings of children from similar backgrounds. This is a qualitative case study that uses participant observation as the main source of data, complemented by interviews and document analysis. After collecting the relevant information on this economically disadvantaged child, her school experience is presented in accordance with her attitude toward school, interpersonal adaptation, academic adaptation, regulation adaptation and self-concept. The character of this story expresses her powerlessness and fear in school physically, behaviorally and psychologically, and exhibits fear and unwillingness with respect to her studies. She is often tardy and is unable to attend school regularly. This not only affects her academic performance, but also results in that she is tending to be excluded from class activities by classmates, especially when the teacher gives her special treatment. By treating her differently, even if out of goodwill, the teacher is making her situation worse in that her classmates increasingly identify her as belonging to a “minority group”. In a sense, exclusion in the classroom is no different from social exclusion. Though teachers are willing to help, there is still no improvement in her school life. It seems that value differences between the middle class and the economically disadvantaged, as well as attempts to bring about change without fully understanding the circumstances in a student’s life, are not conducive to effective teacher-student communication. She is energetic, yet resists going to school and shows a poor academic performance. Even though she occasionally exhibits motivation for learning, the sense of helplessness she brings from home robs her of confidence in her schooling. In regulation adaptation, she takes pride in abiding by school rules and staying out of trouble. However, this implies that she might be enduring bullying from her classmates and that she lacks confidence in the ability of her teachers and her school to prevent it. Due to the resulting sense of isolation and helplessness, she exhibits depression and self-deprecation in her school life. In addition to a discussion on the original intent of this study, recommendations for educators and for future studies are also offered. In education practice, school social workers can help families, teachers and schools to collectively address the problems that disadvantaged children face. At the same time, we should lighten the burden on teachers and improve relationships between teachers and economically disadvantaged students. Furthermore, teachers should try to be “transformative intellectuals” who can empower these children, by considering methods that can surpass the limitations of contemporary institutions. In future studies, researchers may explore teacher-student relationships, interactive processes between teachers and economically disadvantaged children, as well as feasible strategies that can empower economically disadvantaged children. Another topic for future studies would also be to understand the street life of economically disadvantaged children.

一國如在教育上過度強調以學業為導向，就會出現具有雙刃劍角色的補習現象通常會，一方面幫助學生在學術能力測驗中取得高成就，另一方面限制了學生的創造性發展。部分學生因為在普通學校中無法取得足夠的知識和技能，故而轉向補習班為測驗做準備。尤其在英語科目成為主要考核科目之後，補習班的項目也因此更加多元。本研究旨在關注台灣補習教育何以在1990年代教改之後，依然擴張的現況，補習班如何從日常學習的補充角色，轉向台灣中學生教育中的必要部分。研究者針對補習班英語教學方法進行探討，透過對補習班經營者、教師和補習學生進行深度訪談，來瞭解他們的相關經驗。研究結果發現，補習班經營者意透多元與另類等途徑，聘請英語教師，來提升教學的創意。至於教師的訪談發現，英語教師通過嘗試新的教學方法來幫助學生在學業方面取得更好的成績，但是這種方式存在一定的局限性。本研究印一步發現補習班教師包括來自英語國家的和非英語國家，即使某些補習班老師並未取得教師資格證書，但在學生看來比一般學校的英語任課老師更加優秀。值得注意的是，大多數學生認為補習班的教學方法與一般學校相差無幾，但是學生滿意度明顯高於主流學校英語教師。本研究進一步確認補習班因商業利益等考量，許多訊息備受保密，使得研究者難以獲得一套完整的教學方法和學生經驗。 / In an academically oriented nation, there is a realization that attending a cram school can be double-edged, as they often offer great outcomes in students’ academic achievements especially with their test scores but they can also limit students’ creative development. Unable to obtain sufficient knowledge and skills for tests in mainstream schools, students have commonly turned to cram schools for examination preparation. Educational reforms enforcing English as a main examination subject greatly diversified the possibilities for tutoring and in fact helped cram schools’ diversification. The study focuses on the phenomenon of the influx of cram schools, and how it’s no longer a supplement, but instead a necessity of a secondary student’s education in Taiwan. This study starts with investigating the cram school phenomenon, as well as to discuss the teaching methods used in English classes. Finally, data has been collected through in-depth interviews among cram school owners, teachers and former attendees to look at their experience in cram school . The results of the study shows that the cram school owners approved the necessity to enhance creative teaching through alternative methods so as hiring teachers with supplementary talents. The teacher interviews revealed that trying new approaches to teaching have helped students achieve better outcomes academically, but sometimes only to a certain extent that is why cram schools can be double-edged. The paradox of this study is the cram school teachers’ qualifications for both native and English speakers. In fact, even though they may not have any teaching qualifications, cram school teachers are described by students as being better teachers compared to the ones in regular school. Significantly, the study discovered that a majority of students find cram school teaching methods in general so as the overall experience to be more satisfactory than with mainstream school The study finally showed that gaining information about cram schooling can be difficult as there is some secrecy surrounding it. This prevented the researcher from gaining a complete picture of cram school teaching methods and students’ experience.

La place et le rôle des affects dans la relation didactique sont encore peu étudiés au niveau secondaire. Les recherches internationales se font surtout sur de jeunes enfants. Le but de cette recherche est de mieux comprendre comment les professeurs et les élèves trans-agissent dans la relation didactique. Cela nécessite de comprendre comment ses agents, élèves et les professeurs perçoivent, ressentent et comprennent leurs expériences scolaires. Car la question reste difficile : comment les élèves apprennent-ils ? Dans notre collège, des professeurs et des chercheurs se sont associés sur une longue durée pour travailler ensemble dans un collectif qui partage les mêmes valeurs d’éducation. Sur cette base, nous avons mené une recherche sur les événements didactiques et les mouvements affectifs des élèves et des professeurs. Nous documentons le travail de classe par le film et une méthodologie spécifique. Nous montrons d’abord l’importance des affects dans l’expérience scolaire des agents de la relation didactique.Nous apprenons à quoi ils sont sensibles, dans quelles conditions et avec quels effets. Nous concevons l’enseignement comme une action conjointe et nous montrons que les actions des professeurs et des élèves sont entrelacées d’émotions didactiques qui orientent leurs comportements. Les affects didactiques engendrent des dynamiques d’apprentissage positives ou négatives. Et en ce qu’ils permettent aux agents de se comprendre, ceux-ci peuvent exercer leur puissance d’agir ensemble dans le monde social. / The place and role of emotions in the educational relationship are still little studied in high school.International research is mostly done on young children. The purpose of this research is to better understand how teachers and students interact in the didactic relationship. This requires understanding how students and teachers perceive, feel and understand their school experiences. Because the question remains difficult: how do students learn? In our college, professors and researchers have worked together for a long time to work together in a collective that shares the same values of education. On this basis, we conducted research on didactic events and the emotional movements of students and teachers. We document the class work by the film and a specific methodology.We first show the importance of affects in the educational experience of agents of the didactic relationship.We learn what they are sensitive to, under what conditions and with what effects. We conceive teaching and learning as a joint action and we show that the actions of teachers and pupils are intertwined with didactic emotions that guide their behaviors. Didactic affects generate positive or negative learning dynamics. And in that they allow agents to understand each other, they can exercise their power to act together in the social world.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine sociopoli tical factors related to students' attitude towards school. A questionnaire was compiled based on the literature study and was completed by 306 students doing standards eight, nine and ten at a secondary school in Benoni. Five socio-political factors were identified, namely: school experience, extrinsic motivation, pedagogical deprivation, political socialisation and school administration. The empirical study revealed: * A positive attitude towards school by the research group. * Significant correlations between attitude towards school and the five independent variables. * No significant difference in attitude towards school of: boys and girls, standard eight, nine and ten students and students staying with parents or with guardians. * The maximum variance in attitude towards school explained by a combination of variables is 43.2%. Recommendations are made for the enrichment of the family and school environments and areas of possible future research postulated. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

L’objectif principal de cette étude vise à documenter l’expérience scolaire et sociale d’élèves doués du secondaire, regroupés dans un programme « douance » du Québec. Les objectifs spécifiques sont de comprendre le point de vue des élèves en ce qui a trait à leur expérience académique et à leur expérience individuelle au sein de leur classe. Leur point de vue est donc au cœur de la démarche, afin de saisir leurs perceptions scolaires, sociales et individuelles des mesures pédagogiques dont ils bénéficient (regroupement, accélération, enrichissement). Pour ce faire nous nous sommes appuyés sur les modèles théoriques de la douance selon Renzulli et Gagné ainsi que sur les modèles théoriques de l’expérience scolaire selon Dubet et Rochex. Une approche qualitative qui s’appuie sur le récit de vie, l’entrevue semi-dirigée et l’entrevue de groupe a été privilégiée pour réunir et analyser les données issues des 12 participants. Nos résultats suggèrent que le programme douance est globalement apprécié par les élèves, notamment la dimension sociale du parcours scolaire. Les dimensions académiques et individuelles sont plus nuancées, notamment en raison de critiques concernant le manque d’accélération et le manque de différentiation pédagogique. Toutefois, il en résulte une expérience scolaire majoritairement positive pour ces élèves grâce au regroupement pendant l’ensemble de la scolarité du secondaire. Les résultats sont discutés dans la perspective d’offrir des pistes de réflexion pour les milieux scolaires qui souhaitent mieux répondre aux besoins des élèves doués. / The main objective of this study is to document the academic and social experience of gifted secondary school students, grouped together in a "gifted" program in Quebec. The specific objectives are to understand the students' perspective with regard to their academic experience and their individual experience within their class. Their point of view is therefore at the heart of the process, in order to capture their academic, social, and individual perceptions of the educational measures from which they benefit (regrouping, acceleration, enrichment). To do this we relied on theoretical models of giftedness according to Renzulli and Gagné as well as on theoretical models of school experience according to Dubet and Rochex. A qualitative approach that relies on life stories, semi-structured interviews, and group interview was favored to gather and analyze the data from the 12 participants. Our results suggest that the gifted program is generally appreciated by the students, in particular the social dimension of the school pathway. The academic and individual dimensions are more nuanced, in particular, because of criticisms concerning the lack of acceleration and the lack of educational differentiation. However, the result is a predominantly positive school experience for these students thanks to grouping throughout secondary schooling. The results are discussed in order to provide schools some advice and reflections to adequately meet the needs of gifted students.

Ce mémoire porte sur le rapport élèves-institution en milieux défavorisés et, plus spécifiquement, sur les expériences scolaires d’élèves montréalais qui fréquentent le programme régulier d’une école secondaire publique. Au moyen d’une approche phénoménologique et en nous basant sur l’expérience scolaire de Dubet (1994), nous avons identifié certains types d’expériences scolaires ayant émergé de notre corpus composé d’entretiens semi-dirigés menés auprès de 8 élèves du secondaire. Ces différents types d’expériences scolaires nous ont permis de construire une typologie. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’expérience que ces jeunes ont du marché scolaire montréalais. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons analysé la manière dont ces élèves vivent leur scolarisation, en nous basant sur la façon dont ils mettent en mots leurs expériences scolaires. Trois types d’expériences scolaires ont été identifiées : 1. L’expérience d’intégration facilitée : une intériorisation des normes scolaires attendues; 2. L’expérience d’intégration sous tensions à finalité stratégique : l’agentivité des élèves malgré les obstacles sociaux et scolaires; 3. L’expérience critique suivie d’une intégration stratégique : le dépassement de la résistance et la réussite stratégique grâce au groupe de pairs. Les résultats, allant dans le même sens que la littérature existante au sujet des élèves issus de milieux défavorisés, révèlent diverses expériences stigmatisantes rencontrées par ces élèves tout au long de leurs parcours scolaire et académique. Notre recherche révèle aussi l’agentivité et la résilience dont ces élèves font preuve pour persévérer dans un système scolaire qui leur fait parfois violence. Les recommandations qui émanent de notre analyse se rapportent principalement à l’importance d’un meilleur travail de sensibilisation auprès des acteurs des établissements scolaires quant aux réalités vécues par les élèves issus de milieux défavorisés. De plus, quelques pistes de recherches sont identifiées afin de poursuivre des recherches qualitatives et des recherches-actions sur le thème des marchés scolaires et des expériences scolaires des élèves. / The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the student-institution relationship in disadvantaged environments. To do so, we examined the schooling experiences of Montreal students who attend the regular program of a public high school. Using a phenomenological approach and based on Dubet's school experience (1994), we identified certain types of school experiences that emerged from our interviews. These different types of school experiences allowed us to construct a typology. This typology is the result of 8 semi-directed interviews conducted with 8 high school students. First, we were interested in the experience that these young people have of the Montreal school market in which they navigate. Secondly, we analyzed the way in which these students live their schooling, based on the way in which they put their school experiences into words. There are three types of school experiences: 1. the experience of easy integration: an internalization of expected school norms 2. The experience of integration under tension with a strategic purpose: students' agentivity despite social and academic obstacles 3. The critical experience followed by strategic integration: overcoming resistance and strategic success through the peer group. The results are consistent with the existing literature on students from disadvantaged backgrounds and reveal a variety of stigmatizing experiences encountered by these students throughout their school and academic careers. Our research also reveals the agenticity and resilience that these students demonstrate in persevering in a school system that is sometimes violent to them. The recommendations that emerge from our analysis relate primarily to the importance of raising awareness among school stakeholders about the realities experienced by students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, we recommend that qualitative and action research be continued on school markets and students' school experiences

This case study examined how a group of young girls at a secondary school in northern England made sense of their participation in a gender specific vocational education initiative designed to encourage female interest in skilled trade education and professions. The investigation consists of a qualitative case study that included ‘practical’ and historical components. On the practical side, the study looked at a gender specific initiative (girls only) aimed at Year 9 students (12-14 years old) at Garden Road Community and Technology School. The one-day sessions were held at local area colleges or vocational education and training (VET) training facilities and covered skilled trade fields that are traditionally male-dominated (e.g. automotive, construction and engineering). My methodology for the study consisted of two data sources, interviews and a review of public VET policy-related documents. The data was gathered using two methods, with individual and group interviews as the primary one, and public VET policy-related document analysis as the secondary one. In total, 13 current, 2 former and an additional 2 formerly registered (now graduates who decided to pursue non-traditional vocational education and professions) students at the school were interviewed. Beside former and current students, interviews were conducted with 2 instructors and 1 senior administrator at the school. The selection of government policy-related documents covered 2002 to 2011. The study is framed by a feminist informed genealogy that invokes Foucault’s (1990) notion of ‘biopower’ and Pillow’s (2003) notion of the ‘gendered body.’ Meanwhile, Ted Aoki’s (2003) concepts of curriculum-as-plan and curricula-as-lived are used to analyze and discuss the review of UK government policy-related documents and participant narratives. The theme-based presentation of student narratives centred on the girls’ understanding and experience of: the session process and content; gender; non-traditional VET as educational and occupational options; and the impact of the sessions on their educational and professional choices. The student narratives suggest several things that relate to their understanding of gender and non-traditional VET. First, the sessions proved to be both interesting and informative and students expressed an interest in taking part in more (and) varied gender-specific sessions. Second, traditional constructions of gender and gendered behavior are commonly used in job-related discourse as evidenced by the use of the terms ‘boys jobs’ and ‘girls jobs’ among the students. In addition, students had limited opportunities for exposure to non-traditional VET education and professions; and what knowledge they do have is generally dependent upon family knowledge and experience in the area. From a document review standpoint, the findings show that government commitment in terms of interest and financial backing for VET has been inconsistent. Resultantly, schools are left to identify and maintain a range of community-based partnerships that may not always see gender segregation in VET as a major concern. The significance of this study rests in the presentation of the girls’ ‘lived curriculum’ and ‘gendered’ experiences as points that can offer insight into what transpires within vocational education initiatives and settings. Furthermore, from a feminist perspective the research also highlights the continued need to work with schools on how gender is presented, discussed and understood among students. Failure to consider the gendered nature of discourse about education and professional options that takes place within school and class settings limits students’ perspectives about what is available and possible.

The study explores Mathematics educators’ use of students’ out-of-school experiences in the teaching of Transformation Geometry. This thesis focuses on an analysis of the extent to which students’ out-of-school experiences are reflected in the actual teaching, textbook tasks and national examination items set and other resources used. Teachers’ teaching practices are expected to support students’ learning of concepts in mathematics. Freudenthal (1991) argues that students develop their mathematical understanding by working from contexts that make sense to them, contexts that are grounded in realistic settings. ZIMSEC Examiners Reports (2010; 2011) reveal a low student performance in the topic of Transformation Geometry in Zimbabwe, yet, the topic has a close relationship with the environment in which students live (Purpura, Baroody & Lonigan, 2013). Thus, the main purpose of the study is to explore Mathematics teachers’ use of students’ out-of-school experiences in the teaching of Transformation Geometry at secondary school level. The investigation encompassed; (a) teacher perceptions about transformation geometry concepts that have a close link with students’ out-of-school experiences, (b) how teachers are teaching transformation geometry in Zimbabwe’s rural secondary schools, (c) the extent to which students’ out-of-school experiences are incorporated in Transformation Geometry tasks, and (d) the extent to which transformation geometry, as reflected in the official textbooks and suggested teaching models, is linked to students’ out-of-school experiences. Consistent with the interpretive qualitative research paradigm the transcendental phenomenology was used as the research design. Semi-structured interviews, Lesson observations, document analysis and a test were used as data gathering instruments. Data analysis, mainly for qualitative data, involved coding and categorising emerging themes from the different data sources. The key epistemological assumption was derived from the notion that knowing reality is through understanding the experiences of others found in a phenomenon of interest (Yuksel & Yildirim, 2015). In this study, the phenomenon of interest was the teaching of Transformation Geometry in rural secondary schools. In the same light, it meant observing teachers teaching the topic of Transformation Geometry, listening to their perceptions about the topic during interviews, and considering how they plan for their teaching as well as how students are assessed in transformation geometry. The research site included 3 selected rural secondary schools; one Mission boarding high school, a Council run secondary school and a Government rural day secondary school. Purposive sampling technique was used carefully to come up with 3 different types of schools in a typical rural Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling technique was also used to choose the teacher participants, whereas learners who sat for the test were randomly selected from the ordinary level classes. The main criterion for including teacher participants was if they were currently teaching an Ordinary Level Mathematics class and had gained more experience in teaching Transformation Geometry. In total, six teachers and forty-five students were selected to participate in the study. Results from the study reveal that some teachers have limited knowledge on transformation geometry concepts embedded in students’ out-of-school experience. Using Freudenthal’s (1968) RME Model to judge their effectiveness in teaching, the implication is teaching and learning would fail to utilise contexts familiar with the students and hence can hardly promote mastery of transformation geometry concepts. Data results also reveal some disconnect between teaching practices as espoused in curriculum documents and actual teaching practice. Although policy stipulates that concepts must be developed starting from concrete situations and moving to the abstract concepts, teachers seem to prefer starting with the formal Mathematics, giving students definitions and procedures for carrying out the different geometric transformations. On the other hand, tasks in Transformation Geometry both at school level and the national examinations focus on testing learner’s ability to define and use procedures for performing specific transformations at the expense of testing for real understanding of concepts. In view of these findings the study recommends the revision of the school Mathematics curriculum emphasising pre-service programmes for teacher professional knowledge to be built on features of contemporary learning theory, such as RME theory. Such as a revision can include the need to plan instruction so that students build models and representations rather than apply already developed ones. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

This case study examined how a group of young girls at a secondary school in northern England made sense of their participation in a gender specific vocational education initiative designed to encourage female interest in skilled trade education and professions. The investigation consists of a qualitative case study that included ‘practical’ and historical components. On the practical side, the study looked at a gender specific initiative (girls only) aimed at Year 9 students (12-14 years old) at Garden Road Community and Technology School. The one-day sessions were held at local area colleges or vocational education and training (VET) training facilities and covered skilled trade fields that are traditionally male-dominated (e.g. automotive, construction and engineering). My methodology for the study consisted of two data sources, interviews and a review of public VET policy-related documents. The data was gathered using two methods, with individual and group interviews as the primary one, and public VET policy-related document analysis as the secondary one. In total, 13 current, 2 former and an additional 2 formerly registered (now graduates who decided to pursue non-traditional vocational education and professions) students at the school were interviewed. Beside former and current students, interviews were conducted with 2 instructors and 1 senior administrator at the school. The selection of government policy-related documents covered 2002 to 2011. The study is framed by a feminist informed genealogy that invokes Foucault’s (1990) notion of ‘biopower’ and Pillow’s (2003) notion of the ‘gendered body.’ Meanwhile, Ted Aoki’s (2003) concepts of curriculum-as-plan and curricula-as-lived are used to analyze and discuss the review of UK government policy-related documents and participant narratives. The theme-based presentation of student narratives centred on the girls’ understanding and experience of: the session process and content; gender; non-traditional VET as educational and occupational options; and the impact of the sessions on their educational and professional choices. The student narratives suggest several things that relate to their understanding of gender and non-traditional VET. First, the sessions proved to be both interesting and informative and students expressed an interest in taking part in more (and) varied gender-specific sessions. Second, traditional constructions of gender and gendered behavior are commonly used in job-related discourse as evidenced by the use of the terms ‘boys jobs’ and ‘girls jobs’ among the students. In addition, students had limited opportunities for exposure to non-traditional VET education and professions; and what knowledge they do have is generally dependent upon family knowledge and experience in the area. From a document review standpoint, the findings show that government commitment in terms of interest and financial backing for VET has been inconsistent. Resultantly, schools are left to identify and maintain a range of community-based partnerships that may not always see gender segregation in VET as a major concern. The significance of this study rests in the presentation of the girls’ ‘lived curriculum’ and ‘gendered’ experiences as points that can offer insight into what transpires within vocational education initiatives and settings. Furthermore, from a feminist perspective the research also highlights the continued need to work with schools on how gender is presented, discussed and understood among students. Failure to consider the gendered nature of discourse about education and professional options that takes place within school and class settings limits students’ perspectives about what is available and possible.