The study combines data from a wide range of different sources such as the National Pupil Database (NPD) or the 2001 Census.
The first four waves of the study were undertaken for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) by a consortium of contractors including BMRB Social Research, GfK NOP and Ipsos MORI.
[1] The purpose of the study is to identify the key issues that influence the lives of young people in England in hindsight to their progress in the transition from compulsory education to the entry in the labour market or other outcomes.
Amongst the main topics covered by the study are household and demographic information, languages spoken in the home, attitudes towards school and involvement in education, year 10 subject choices, special educational needs, parental expectations and aspirations, family activities, etc.
[3] Recently published research includes, amongst others, the paper "Minority Ethnic Pupils in the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England" which can be downloaded here.