The changes occurring in students' attitudes as they move from secondary to postsecondary education were examined in a study of a cohort of 79 British students. The cohort, which was confined to students who had given clear indications of their intentions to proceed to post-16 studies in a further education (FE) college, included equal numbers of males and females, representatives of the Asian ethnic community, and roughly equal representation of students intending to proceed to the following: A-level or international baccalaureate courses; General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) advanced courses (or the equivalent); and other full-time post-16 courses. The 79 students were interviewed initially while in year 11 of secondary school. Fifty of the students were reinterviewed during the second half of their first term in FE. Seventeen teachers, FE tutors, and parents were also interviewed. The interviews focused on the following: anticipations of and reactions to learning opportunities in FE; attitudes toward learning; and approaches to being a student. Changes in the students' attitudes were identified and discussed from the standpoint of their implications for teaching practice. Contains 40 references. Appended is a list of the 79 students' year 12 destinations. (MN)