Most primary and secondary students refused to go to school at least once last year

School refusal affected children across Ireland last year, with anxiety, friendship problems and difficulty engaging with lessons among the reasons parents gave for missed school days.

A Barnardos survey found that 59% of primary-school parents said their children were worried about returning to school. The figure rose to 70% among parents of secondary-school students. Concerns about friendships ranked highest, cited by 30% of primary-school parents and 31% of secondary-school parents. Classwork and bullying were also major concerns.

The charity’s annual online survey collected 704 responses in July, including 455 from parents of primary pupils and 249 from parents of secondary students. It found that 48% of primary-school parents said their children never refused to attend school, compared with 39% at secondary level. Nine percent of primary-school parents and 28% of secondary-school parents said refusal happened occasionally, while 10% and 11%, respectively, said it occurred frequently or weekly.

Anxiety was identified as the main reason for refusal by 52% of primary-school parents and 42% of secondary-school parents. At the same time, 28% of primary-school parents and 37% of secondary-school parents said school refusal had worsened over the previous year. Barnardos said children in disadvantaged areas and those with additional needs were most acutely affected.

“Over the past few years across our services, we have seen a significant increase in the number of children we support having problems around school anxiety and school avoidance,” Barnardos said. Parents called for more support and guidance, with some saying children faced too much pressure and needed more time to regulate themselves before entering classrooms.

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Over the past few years across our services, we have seen a significant increase in the number of children we support having problems around school anxiety and school avoidance.