One Oxfordshire family’s story illustrates what happens when a child’s extreme anxiety about school has gone too far. Lauren, the child’s mother, revealed that her child’s distress prompted them to express a heartbreaking wish: they “didn’t want to live anymore.” This distressing mood rings true with a rising fear about the mental health of increasingly troubled children in the rigid educational system.
To avoid her child’s panic attack, Lauren would spend frequently two hours comforting her child at school. Yet she needed to be able to provide that comfort before the school day even began. Still, even with these efforts, her child was having a hard time conducting everyday life. In reality, he was going to school for an average of 30 minutes a day max. When the child began to attend the virtual therapeutic sessions, everything changed. These sessions were led by Ark-T, an Oxford-based charity. Lauren always saw her kid jump for joy at the prospect of going to these classes. The emphasis on art-based projects and their growth in small cohort of fellows created a quiet, safe, protected incubator environment.
Lauren talked about her experience in a recent interview with BBC Radio Oxford. She articulated the pain that accompanies seeing her child suffer.
“You can tell they can’t cope with being there,” – Lauren
As the problem of school absenteeism escalates, head teacher Heather Richards from Orchard Meadow Primary School emphasized the need for proactive measures. She emphasized how school absences can lead to a “vicious circle.” This vicious cycle increases mental health needs and drives students further out of the learning space.
Those statistics related to school absenteeism in Oxfordshire should be shocking. In the past 10 years, the population of “ghost children” has skyrocketed. Just 427 for the 2015/16 school year, that quickly jumped to 2,305 by the 2023/24 school year. Today, one in 38 children falls through the cracks, skipping more than two months of school on average.
Richards noted the positive difference that Ark-T’s workshops have had on school attendance and social interaction between students.
“They have a stronger connection with some of the children in their year group,” – Heather Richards
The need for collective action is clear. A recent statement from the government highlighted this urgency when it called for a national campaign to tackle school absenteeism.
“Tackling this issue is everyone’s responsibility – government, schools, parents, and children – and we need a national effort to get our kids back in the classroom.” – Government statement
Lauren’s journey through this challenging landscape raises important questions about parental responsibilities and support systems for children struggling with anxiety.
“Am I imagining these things? Am I a bad parent? You question all those things when, deep down, you know your child and you know they’re unhappy,” – Lauren
The case for tackling this epidemic of school absence remains clear: improved grades, higher wages, and better life chances await those who can reclaim their place in the classroom.
