Impact of the duration of the school transport journey on the academic engagement of students in Compulsory Secondary Education and Sixth Form

Abstract

The particularities of the territory and the distribution of the population have historically led to the need to use school transport to guarantee access to education for the entire population. This generates inequalities and can have repercussions on the academic performance of the pupils transported. The article analyses the consequences that travel time between the place of residence and the study centres (two secondary schools in the province of Castellón with a high percentage of students arriving by bus) has on academic engagement. The study comprised 470 students who were pursuing Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and Baccalaureate qualifications. Of this group, 232 were male (49.4%) and 238 were female (50.6%), aged between 13 and 21 years (mean = 15.63, SD = 4.25). Of this group, 232 were male (49.4%) and 238 were female (50.6%), aged between 13 and 21 years (mean = 15.63, SD = 4.25). The participants consisted of 18.9% 1st ESO students, 21.9% 2nd ESO students, 15.3% 3rd ESO students, 13.4% 4th ESO students, 14% 1st BACH students, and 16.4% 2nd BACH students. The Engagement Questionnaire (MOCSE-EEQ) was used to collect the data, and the statistical software SPSS 25.00 was used for analysis. Cronbach's alpha was employed to appraise the questionnaire, along with Pearson's linear correlation analysis, one-factor ANOVA and simple linear regression analysis to gauge the proposed main objective. The outcomes revealed that there exists a correlation between the duration students require to arrive at school and their engagement. Additionally, it can be asserted that the lengthier the travel time, the lower the academic engagement. In fact, engagement can be anticipated by travel time. In conclusion, this study can assist educators in formulating and promoting measures to prevent the decline of academic engagement caused by the time spent commuting to school.                                          

Keywords: school transport, academic engagement, secondary education, Sixth Form, quality of teaching.