A recent study into the effect of the pandemic on children’s mental health and subsequent academic success has found that those adversely affected are around twice as likely not to secure GCSE grades A*-C.

The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) has found that young people who experienced mental health difficulties at secondary school were over three times more likely not to achieve five or more A*-C grades at GCSE level, including English and mathematics, compared to their peers.

The study comes after a rise in mental health referrals, from 1 in 9 in 2017 to just 1 in 6 in July 2020, with data showing a rising trend in health difficulties adversely affecting boys’ educational accomplishments more than girls. 

In 2017 around 11.4% of boys aged between 5 and 16 were found to experience a probable mental health disorder, compared to 10.3% of girls of the same age.  In July 2020 these figures were found to have increased to 16.7% of boys and 15.2% of girls.

Researchers have advised that children from disadvantaged backgrounds and whose mental health has been affected by the pandemic will face the most significant challenges in terms of trying to catch up at school.  Although socioeconomic factors are understood to affect academic achievement, the study, published in the BMJ Open Journal, has suggested that the impact of mental health difficulties can have a detrimental effect, regardless of background.

The report advised; "Improving mental health could possibly increase average attainment levels within this group to a greater extent than within the majority population who are not disadvantaged.

"The potential effect at a population level would be to reduce the average difference in attainment between socioeconomic groups, and narrow educational and consequent social inequalities."

Leading the study at NatCen, Dr Neil Smith said: "As the school year comes to an end, young people are facing a double hit to their educational prospects.

"First, disruption to schooling caused by the pandemic has directly impacted on learning.

"Second, 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."

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Carrie Plummer - Editor & Content Manager