The aspirations of children at risk of dropping out of school: do engagement and school satisfaction play a mediating role? / Aspiraciones de los alumnos en riesgo de abandono escolar: posible papel mediador del compromiso y de la satisfacción escolar

This article aims to explore the relationships between demographics, school engagement and school satisfaction in explaining the aspirations of children at risk of Early Leaving from Education and Training (ELET). Data were gathered through a self-administered questionnaire given to 681 children (aged 11 to 18) participating in an extracurricular support programme for students at risk in Barcelona. Chi-squared variance tests, the Kruskal-Wallis test and a Structural Equation Model were performed. The results showed that there is a strong bidirectional relationship between satisfaction with school and the self-perception of having good school habits and basic skills. Moreover, the lower the school engagement and satisfaction, the higher the probability of having low aspirations. Girls, primary school children and children from a migrant background are more likely to have high aspirations. In view of these findings, policy and practice should take action to enhance school engagement and satisfaction as interdependent variables with the potential to increase children’s educational aspirations. Furthermore, greater attention to specific profiles should be given when designing programmes aimed at vulnerable populations.