According to a study by The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) and published in the BMJ Open Journal, children with poor mental health are three times less likely to pass five GCSEs than other children.
The study, Adolescent mental health difficulties and educational attainment, looked at children aged 16 and found that both boys' and girls' education were affected by poor mental health. However, boys were found to be most affected. Factors assessed as part of the study included family socio-demographics, happiness with school, and parental health.
Socio-economic background proved to have the greatest impact on mental health, with an increased difference of 40.3% between those who were considered “Not at all deprived” and “Highly deprived” on the Household poverty score.
The research found that disruption caused by the pandemic has compounded problems already faced by these groups. School closures, online lessons, and isolation periods have left many children behind if they lack a home support system or direct help for their wellbeing from an external source.
Leader of the study at NatCen, Neil Smith is reported in the Guardian as saying, “The pandemic has adversely affected many young people’s mental health, and it’s likely those whose mental health was affected the most by the pandemic will face greater difficulties in making up for learning time that’s been lost."
The full study can be found here:
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Poor mental health leaves pupils three times less likely to pass five GCSEs
The Guardian
