Lara Landolt

Young People’s Experiences at the Selective Educational Transition to Gymnasium in Zurich and the Role of Supplementary Education

Educational transitions can have a significant impact on young people’s future educational trajectories and professional careers. In my research, I am interested in the interfaces between the social inequalities and marketization processes at the educational transition to Gymnasium in Zurich. I am also interested in the impact of education policy on the lives of young people at this transition. To explore this, I draw on an ethnography with eight students aged 13–15 during and after their preparation for the highly selective standardized entrance examination to Gymnasium. Through my research, I hope to increase our understanding of the impact of this educational transition on the lives of young people and their families. I also hope to provide insight into the social inequalities this transition reproduces by unpacking the challenges students face at this transition. With these insights, I aim to contribute to an informed debate to critically guide and actively shape educational transitions for the benefit of future generations of students.

Links to Published Works:

L. Landolt & I. Bauer. Children’s technologies of the self within Neoliberal Governmentality at the Educational Transition to Gymnasium in Zurich. Children’s Geographies, submitted.