Abstract:
Choosing a secondary school is an important step in a pupil's educational career and it can have a significant impact upon a pupil's educational future. Some pupils choose a secondary school in their local neighbourhood, whereas others choose a secondary school located outside the local area. Moreover, does territorial stigmatisation of the secondary schools neighbourhood influences the spatial identity of a regular havo/vwo first-former pupil in selecting a secondary school to attend, besides the standardised school choice motives? In this thesis I hope to offer an explanation as to how spatial identity and territorial stigmatization of a secondary schools neighbourhood manifests itself in the perceived view and eventually in the school choice motives of a regular havo/vwo pupil opting for a secondary school in the municipality of Venlo. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches (mixed methods) have been used to collect data.
