How worries grow into 'school phobia'

Children's fears can develop into a phobic reaction to school, say researchers

"School phobia" can be caused by apparently low-level fears that children allow to grow out of proportion, suggests research.

This could mean embarrassment about having to change in front of others for a PE lesson or an anxiety about the layout of a school which feels too large or overcrowded.

The study of school phobia by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that this strong aversion to going to school can be triggered by specific problems, which if ignored can completely disrupt a child's education.

Other factors which have contributed to an overwhelming fear of school are bullying, fears about the journey to and from school and feeling unable to keep up with academic work.

There could also be high levels of anxiety generated by the structure of the school day, including "uncontrolled" times between lessons and break times.

Background problems

The research into school phobia also found that pupil's problems within the school are often aggravated by problems in children's home lives.

This might include families splitting up, domestic violence, having to look after younger siblings or a lack of support from parents, which could leave pupils more psychologically vulnerable when in school.

The study, commissioned by the Local Government Association, also examined how schools were responding to this problem.

Researchers found that once the problem had been identified, usually through a poor attendance record, schools offered pastoral support and a gradual re-integration into the school.