Information » Education » In School 11-16 » Bunking Off
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Bunking off, skiving, or truancy is being absent from school without good reason.
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The law states that everyone between the ages of 5 and 16 must get a full-time education. It‘s compulsory.
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A lot of unexplained absence from school can also go against you when you apply for jobs and other courses in the future so it‘s really important to go to school.
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If you bunk off, your parents could be taken to court and fined.
Why do some young people play truant?
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There are many reasons why young people avoid going to school - here are some:
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They may be having difficulties with their school work and are feeling worried.
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In some cases a young person may have a learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia) that has not been recognised and they are not getting the help and support they need.
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Some young people avoid school because they are being bullied.
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There is also a condition known as ‘school phobia‘, which is a genuine fear of school. You can‘t just decide to have school phobia - a doctor would have to say if you had this condition or
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Some people genuinely dislike school but remember it‘s the law - you must attend until the official school leaving date which is 30 June in Year 11.
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If you are really not enjoying school then remember it doesn‘t last forever.
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What will the school do if you play truant?
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A teacher may speak to you about your attendance.
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If you are still absent after this then the school will probably want to discuss the problem with your parents or guardians.
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Your parents may also get a letter from the local education authority (LEA) and a visit from an Education Welfare Office (EWO - may sometimes be called an Education Social Worker).
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An Education Welfare Officer is responsible for checking on students who don‘t turn up at school on a regular basis. They will investigate your problem and try to help sort it out, often with advice from teachers and parents or guardians.
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If you do not attend school then your parents can be taken to court.
Where to get help
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If you are having problems in school that are causing you to be absent try to talk to your parents or teachers about it.
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If you are being bullied read our article on bullying for tips on how to deal with this.
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If you can‘t talk to anyone at home or in school you could call Childline on 0800 1111 or visit Childline
