A guide for young people Problems at school

Some school problems you might worry about include:

• finding schoolwork difficult, or having problems concentrating in class if others are noisy and disruptive
• exam stress
• tricky relationships with friends and friendship groups
• finding lunchtime difficult, particularly if you have eating problems, anorexia or bulimia 
• not getting on with teachers, or feeling like you are labelled as 'trouble'
• bullying
• receiving inappropriate comments from classmates or teachers; when these are of a sexual nature it is known as sexual harassment - look at Childline's website for more information and advice
• problems at home - your parents’ relationship, sibling issues, a housing problem or simply feeling unsupported
• returning to school after having time away to look after your mental or physical health
• going to school with anxiety, depression, OCD or any other mental health condition
• going back to school after being excluded, expelled or suspended
• specific difficulties such as dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyspraxia, or autism

If you are experiencing any these problems, you might find that it is affecting how you feel both when you’re at school and at home. Remember, you are not alone. There are people who will listen to you and support you through these difficult times.

If you are struggling with problems at school, you might find everyday tasks like getting ready in the morning or having lunch with your friends becoming more difficult. You might start to feel down or lower in confidence. You might also:

• feel anxious on your way to school, thinking about what might happen that day
• withdraw from sharing your ideas in class or chatting to your friends at lunch
• not feel as confident in yourself or your work
• feel less motivated to do your school work or homework
• get headaches or stomach aches thinking about school
• see your marks drop because you find it very difficult to focus
• get stressed and angry at things that didn’t make you feel this way before

If you are feeling like this, sometimes you might not want to go into school, or even refuse to go in. In extreme cases, some people may truant (not go to school) without their parents knowing.

It’s important to remember you won't always feel this way about school. Things can get better. If any of these problems are affecting your daily life, it’s a good idea to tell someone you trust about how you’re feeling. With the right help and support, you can work through the problems you are having at school.

If you’re being bullied at school, you need to tell someone like your teacher or your parents/carer. By telling your teacher what is going on, it will help your school tackle the issue. Your school will often have a set way of helping students. We have lots more information about bullying and how you can get help here.

Try to spend time with people that you feel comfortable talking to. If you are struggling with other students or teachers, spending time with family or friends you might have outside of school can help. They can support you and remind you that people do value you.

If you have specific difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, dyspraxia, or autism, you can get support from your school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). SENCO’s are there to make sure that you get the right support during lessons and can give you extra help.

If you have stopped attending school, an Education Welfare Officer will work with you and your family to support your return to school. An Education Welfare Officer can help make sure you get the support you need going back to school including things like extra funding from the council to help your family pay for school meals.