The truth behind truancy – and how to get kids back in the classroom

Although "skiving" or "bunking off" school has been an issue since the beginning of formal education, there's no denying that things are getting worse – and that Britain has a truancy problem.

In fact, a report commissioned by charity Parentkind and shared with The Times found that one in three children skipped school in the past year and that a third of parents reported arguing with their kids about attendance every week. Of the sample, 96% of parents also believed that children should go to school every day if possible.

Absence is also something education secretary Bridget Phillipson is aiming to crack down on. She has not only warned that Britain is facing a truancy "epidemic", she has also commented on the "casual kind of attitude increasingly emerging" in parents when it comes to their children's attendance.

"It’s not just about your responsibility to your own child, but about the responsibility you have to the whole school community and wider society," she said earlier this month. "The decisions you take as an individual parent not to send your children to school impact the education of all children in the class."

So, why do children skip school? And what can parents and teachers do to incentivise kids to attend classes? BACP-registered child and adolescent psychotherapist Alison Roy explains.

Why do children and teens skip school?

1. They're getting bullied

It is estimated that over 1.5 million children aged 10-15 experienced in-person bullying and 847,000 children experienced online bullying in the year ending March 2023. And, according to research by the Department for Education, 21% of those who had experienced this sort of behaviour turned to truancy – three times the number of those who were not bullied.

When bullying or behaviour that feels threatening isn't properly addressed, it can lead to young people feeling unsafe and instil a sense of distrust, according to Roy. "I spoke to a young person who reported an assault which wasn't taken seriously and they felt everyone was talking about it and laughing about them," she says.

Solutions: As well as educating children about bullying and the effects of this sort of behaviour, it's key that a child's confidence and self-esteem is built up and that dialogue remains open, per UNICEF. Talking regularly with children can help them overcome these negative experiences and if you have serious concerns, take it up with the school staff or seek professional help.

2. They do not enjoy school or a particular class

If Hollywood movies are anything to go by, the main reason for truancy is an aversion to PE or a disdain for a particular teacher, but it goes beyond that.

Roy explains: "Some young people feel that the school environment is overwhelming for them. For example, secondary school can feel very different to primary school in terms of size, the freedom to move around or find someone when they are struggling, noise, creative and physical space to learn and 'play' like outdoor spaces or using creative material which aren't just about completing a task or being assessed."

She adds: "In my experience, there used to be more transition programmes in place between primary schools and secondary to help students prepare and settle so this has also changed."

Solutions: To help combat the issue, Roy adds that school staff need to be enabled to build "safe and consistent relationships with young people, where there are smaller group discussions not just rigidly connected to the curriculum and assessed targets."

3. Unauthorised absences

Last year, the government cited that 89% of unauthorised absences were due to term-time holidays, and in a bid to crack down on these figures, it introduced steeper fines for parents in August 2024.

The new rules mean that parents who pull their kids out of classes for more than five days for unauthorised reasons could be charged a minimum of £80 each. Those who exceed two fines in three years may also face prosecution of more severe penalties.

Solutions: Parents may argue that travel prices increase during school holidays, but it is advised that they refrain from removing their child/children from school where possible. Alternatives include staycations and off-season package deals. And when you are removing children from school for a vacation, ensure you bring learning materials and ask the school for work to assign to your children while you are away.

4. Mental health reasons

"The pressure of smart phones and being constantly scrutinised by others without any let up can feel very persecutory, and school can also then feel like an additional pressure where they are not only being assessed and expected to active certain grades, but they are being assessed and scrutinised by their peers," Roy explains.

Indeed, research by UCL discovered a link between truancy and exclusion and mental health. It found that boys who had been excluded from secondary school were more susceptible to depression and anxiety.

It also found that both boys and girls who had been excluded also went on to have worse behavioural problems in early adolescence but not later in adolescence. Truants went on to have greater long-term emotional problems, and short-term their conduct problems were also higher.

Solutions: As well as trying to limit screen time and opening up dialogue with children, talking therapies are a great tool to help those struggling with anxiety and depression. Try not to dismiss their concerns or feelings, and if your child is old enough, ask them to explain what they think the root of the problem is so you can help them talk through their problems. More tips can be found on the NHS website here.

5. They struggle to keep up with their peers

If a child struggles with their learning, they may be more inclined to ditch school – and the more school they miss, the more they struggle when they return.

Data from 2019 showed that children in Key Stage 2 who didn’t achieve the expected standard in reading, writing and maths missed on average four more days per school year than those whose performance exceeded the expected standard.

Solutions: In addition to talking with their teachers and understanding your child's learning styles, you may find that words of encouragement go a long way, as well as carving out time to help them with their studies. Alternatively, you may wish to explore additional tutoring or explore with the school whether there are reasonable adjustments that can be made.

6. Industrial action

During the national teachers' strike in February 2023, attendance dropped by 43%. Over the course of the year, 23.4% of pupils were then consistently absent.

Roy says: "It's not about blaming the teachers – many try really hard to build positive relationships. But the number of children and young people with complex issues struggling to engage with school seems to be increasing at a time when resources are decreasing. There needs to be more training for teachers and support for them too and managing these changes."

Solutions: During their general election campaign last year, the Labour government outlined that it would recruit additional teachers, end tax breaks for private schools and overhaul the Ofsted system. In order to boost recruitment figures, it said that a review of bursaries and retention payments was needed, and since coming into power, Sir Keir Starmer's administration has agreed to a 5.5% pay increase to all teachers and school leaders in England.

7. They do not have friends or "fit in"

Roy says that some young simply describe to her the feeling of not belonging. "There are also real and more prevalent issues around identity and acceptance, which affect how alone or connected a child person will feel," she states. "This could be race, gender, how someone identifies with life experience."

She continues: "Some young people in the care system or who are adopted or refugees, for example, often feel that their very different experience can't be understood or accommodated.

"Having significant losses and/or traumas affects the way children learn and relate to each other. There simply isn't the time or the resource to train already beleaguered teaching staff on how to help these children feel more able to engage or to thrive."

Solutions: Trying to get your child to name their feelings can really help, as can encouraging them to take on different hobbies – as chances are, they will form bonds with likeminded people who have shared interests. If they are being isolated for other reasons, as Roy has suggested above, speak to school staff about inclusion lessons. And if your child isn't being left out or is better at making friends, discuss with them the importance of empathy and involving others.

8. Peer pressure

Sometimes, bad habits are picked up from friends and kids become more susceptible to truancy if their friends have a certain attitude towards it.

Studies suggest that peer truancy not only impacts whether or not children skip school themselves, it also impacts how many days they skive.

Solutions: A strong sense of self and having confidence is the key to avoiding peer pressure, so building a child's self-esteem is critical. Also teaching them about consent and when to say "no" can really help, in addition to practicing ways to decline.

9. Home life

Parenting styles massively impact a child's view on truancy – but that isn't the only way in which their home life can impact their education.

Per the 2021 Census, around 120,000 children aged 5-18 in England were young carers, while the school census in 2023 suggested that there were 39,000 "known" young carers in the country. Meanwhile, a 2018 BBC survey found that there were as many as 820,000 young carers aged 11-15.

Mr Tilling, the headteacher at Hartlepool's High Tunstall College of Science told the BBC last week that many pupils were "getting punished" because of imposed carer duties.

He said: "If you've got a person that has caring responsibilities like taking their sibling to school or helping get a parent out of bed, the rules on attendance now mean if they arrive half an hour after registration, they're given a U grade for unauthorised absence."

He added that the reality was that these "absent" pupils were at school most of the day. "Their childhood is complex enough, they're saving the state a fortune in terms of caring, and then they're getting punished for being late – that's not fair on those young people."

Solutions: If you are a young carer and you are struggling, there are various resources available on the NHS website here. You may also be eligible for financial support or help from the government. Visit the Action for Children website here for more information.

10. SEND children at risk

Children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) are more vulnerable to truancy. According to Disability Rights UK, autistic children are especially likely to be school refusers.

Supporting this, research by the Special Needs Jungle outlined that 40% of the children included had autism, and many had other health issues. 90% of the children had SEND or a health problem, and almost all were very anxious. Around 60% of the children had been bullied in school, mostly by other children and some by school staff.

Solutions: For information and resources on living with and caring for a SEND child, visit the Gov.uk website here.

Read more about children and parenting:

• 10 ways to get more out of children’s play (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• 10 ways parents can support LGBT+ children (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)

• Why I don’t give my kids screen time limits (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)