A report has found that almost half of Irish young people regret the pathways they take after leaving school.

The study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that experiences - such as the social mix of the school and relationships with teachers - have a significant impact on the future of students.

Those who had positive interactions with their teachers and who attended socially mixed or middle class schools were more likely to go on to some sort of post-secondary education.

It found that higher education was the dominant pathway for the 750 students surveyed - some 61% of them entered higher education.

The research found that those who took Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses often saw this as a compromise rather than a specific goal - especially when they did not go on to further study on completion.

A large majority (more than four-fifths) of school leavers reported significant differences in teaching and learning between second-level education and further/higher education.

They highlighted particular difficulties in relation to the standard expected of them, the difficulty of the course and managing their workload.

Support structures within further and higher education institutions were found to play an important role in supporting the move to further study.

Young people were largely positive about many aspects of their lives - including friendships, accommodation, their course and workload.

However, a significant minority - around one in six - reported high stress levels, with higher stress levels among those who were unemployed and those in higher education preparing for final exams.

Selina McCoy is associate research professor with the ESRI. She says a significant proportion of young people did not achieve their goals.