Abstract—Initial results are reported of a major study undertaken to determine factors which could be used to predict employment success of partially‐sighted school leavers. The sample involved 355 individuals from 13 schools for the partially sighted taken from three successive final academic years and followed up 1 year after leaving school. Questionnaire techniques were used, the response rate being 85.6%. Analysis revealed that 55.6% sought or experienced employment and 44.4% undertook further education. Eighty‐seven per cent of those seeking employment obtained jobs alongside the normally sighted. Only 12 leavers remained totally unemployed. Forty‐seven per cent were still in their initial emp