The amount of secondary school pupils that are refusing to go to school is on the rise. Whilst this has been a concern for teachers, parents and mental health professionals for years, recently the numbers not attending school have gone up significantly.
There are a number of reasons for this – ranging from increasing academic pressures, to the fallout from the pandemic. In this article, we’ll look at the main reasons that are contributing to the increase in school refusal, as well as the consequences for pupils, their families and society.
- Increased academic pressure
One of the major factors contributing to the rise in school refusal is the increased academic pressure placed on pupils. Globally, many children now have to deal with intense competition from an early age, due to standardised testing, while make or break exams are commonplace. The pressure can create anxiety, stress and worry about the future and is causing pupils to dread attending class due to a fear of failing or not living up to expectations.
- Peer bullying and social pressures
Bullying is still an epidemic running rampant in far too many schools, whether it’s in a physical, mental, or digital form. Children who are being bullied, harassed, or excluded, often attempt to avoid going to school completely, as they see it as an unsafe environment. The added social pressures placed on kids to fit in with the crowd and conform are being worsened by our increasingly digital society and social media. Plenty of pupils are feeling the stress and strain of trying to keep up with a specific image.
- Mental health issues
Mental health issues are also becoming more common for younger children and conditions like depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often dramatically affect a student’s ability and desire to regularly attend school. Additionally, there is still a taboo surrounding mental health, couple with a lack of access to resources that can help and support pupils.
- Technological developments
Due to the widespread availability of smartphones, laptops and mobile internet, students are now online a lot of the time but this has introduced a new set of challenges. As well as feeling peer pressure from social media pupils are easily distracted by apps like TikTok and Instagram, as well as games, messenger apps and other digital diversions. All of this can lead to truancy, as some students prioritise being online over going to school.
- Parental expectations
Parental pressure is also a key reason behind why the numbers of pupils refusing to attend school are rising. Some parents place far too much pressure on their children to hit academic targets, but as this causes intense anxiety, this can have the reverse affect, making children want to drop out altogether. When parents hold high expectations coupled with a lack of understanding of their child’s worries and unique needs, it can push students to avoid school in an attempt to escape the pressure.
- The impact of the pandemic
COVID-19 drastically disrupted education around the world, with schools having to transition virtually overnight to remote learning or hybrid models. At the time these changes were critical for public health and safety but in the pandemic’s wake, they are still having an unintended impact. Long periods of remote learning have made pupils feel isolated and disconnected from their peers, with many finding it hard to adjust back to in-person learning.
- Peer influence and social trends
Peer pressure and influence plays a huge role in school refusal, as pupils want to fit in and many often copy their friends. Sometimes, when one child refuses to attend class, it can normalise the behaviour to the peer group and make others within it want to follow suit. This issue is particularly difficult for parents and teachers to address.
What are the consequences of school refusal?
The recent surge in students refusing to attend school doesn’t come without consequences and these will have an impact on pupils, their families and society as a whole. Children who continuously avoid going to school harm their immediate education and future prospects, as well as their social development and this leads to isolation. School provides essential opportunities for socialising and peer skill-building that students miss out on if they don’t attend.
School refusal is extremely difficult for parents to navigate, as dealing with a child who constantly refuses to attend class can often be emotionally draining. It places a serious strain on family relationships and it’s also a logistical problem, as parents try and get the balance right between wanting the best for their child and implementing the right amount of discipline.
When it comes to society, if the problem persists at the pace, it will have a knock-on effect on the future workforce’s ability to perform their roles, as well as the population’s general wellbeing. Having a whole generation who have missed major chunks of learning will mean many will lack the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in a job market that is only going to become more competitive.