Aiming high, aiming low, not knowing where to go: Career aspirations and later outcomes of adolescents with special educational needs

This study investigates the role of early career aspirations in predicting the later educational and occupational outcomes of adolescents designated as having special educational needs (SEN) in comparison to those without SEN. Drawing upon the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England, the sample includes adolescents with and without SEN who attended mainstream schools (n = 9966). Findings showed that high career aspirations at age 14 were more predictive of later educational and employment outcomes from ages 16 to 20 for adolescents with SEN compared to those without SEN. Findings underline the importance of helping adolescents with SEN identify their career aspirations in early adolescence and adopt appropriate strategies to encourage them to reach their potential.