Student Wellness

Understanding and Addressing School Refusal at The King's College

At The King’s College, we recognise that school refusal can be a distressing issue for families, often stemming from underlying causes such as anxiety, social challenges, or difficulty adjusting to school routines. School refusal can take many forms, including struggles getting ready in the morning, persistent complaints about feeling unwell, requests to leave school early, or strong resistance to attending. This can be a frustrating experience for both parents and students, but we want to reassure you that school refusal is not uncommon. With understanding, early intervention, and consistent support, most students can resume regular attendance and regain a positive attitude toward school.

To help students facing school refusal, communication between families and the school is essential. Begin by having gentle, open conversations with your child to understand any concerns they may have about attending school. Exploring these feelings can uncover specific worries, such as academic stress, peer relationships, or fears about upcoming changes in routine. Establishing consistent routines around morning preparation, regular bedtimes, and school drop-offs can also offer a sense of stability that helps children feel prepared for the day ahead. Research has shown that setting a regular routine creates a foundation for success, as it helps children manage anxiety by knowing what to expect.

The staff at The King's College are here to provide additional support and work with you and your child to help them feel safe and comfortable at school so that regular attendance resumes. Together, we can explore approaches that align with your child’s needs, helping them to feel encouraged and supported along the way. We encourage families to reach out to us for assistance so that together, we can support your child in feeling comfortable, safe, and successful at The King's College.

Cybersafety and Social Media

At The King’s College Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that our students do not access social media platforms. This aligns with both government regulations and our own Cyber Safety Code of Conduct, which we actively monitor.

Research has consistently shown that social media can negatively affect young children, and as a child-safe school, our priority is to protect them for as long as possible. Moreover, most social media platforms require users to be at least 13 years old. For our younger students to access these platforms, they would need to provide false information. As a Christian school, we emphasise honesty in all aspects of life, including online behaviour, and uphold the College's virtue of Integrity.