'High levels of anxiety driving school absences'
Paul Montague, a teacher of 30 years and representative for the National Education Union (NEU) said the mental health challenges faced by students was a key concern for his members.
Mr Montague said teachers were working "incredibly hard" but would welcome additional support from the government to tackle the problem.
He said: "When you have a student who is not there regularly it's really hard to have the continuity of teaching to help that child make progress."
Mr Montague said anxiety in students was a genuine problem.
"Staff and civil servants are trying to address it but we do need more resources," he said.
Guernsey educators are among those across the British Isles struggling to boost attendance rates, which are yet to return to pre-Covid levels.
Earlier this year Education said it was aiming for an attendance of at least 95% across Guernsey's schools, compared with rates of 94% in primary and 87% in secondary schools during the last academic year.
Nick Hynes, Guernsey's director of education, agreed teachers needed help to "fix the problems facing young people".
He said: "Good attendance is everyone's business and I think we need to make sure schools have high expectations which are communicated to parents."
But he added issuing fines to parents - as is the system in England - may not be effective.
It comes as plans to bring in fines for parents who don't ensure their children's attendance as part of Guernsey's Education Law review were not progressed.
Mr Hynes said: "The evidence is patchy about whether or not it has a positive impact. Some local authorities use it extensively and some don't use it at all."
Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
Government aims to improve school attendance
Education reforms to be introduced in phases
Education - States of Guernsey
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
More than 9,000 Arlington ISD students receive free backpacks at back-to-school kickoff
North Texas students can hit the snooze button for a few more mornings, but thousands of Arlington ISD families were up bright and early Saturday to prepare for the first day of school. Long lines of parents and students entered AT&T Stadium for the 11th annual Arlington ISD Back to School Kickoff. More than 9,000 students received backpacks filled with school supplies to help them start the school year on the right foot. In addition to backpacks, students received free haircuts, medical screenings and other services. The event aimed to ease the financial burden many families face at the start of the school year. "Being able to come and receive these backpacks filled with school supplies and get the health screenings is such a great blessing because a lot of things cost so much," said parent Patreece Dade. Xander Dade, a rising junior, said the backpack was packed with essentials. "It's heavy with certain surprises like binders, colored pencils, pencils, notebooks—things that I do need," he said. "Going into the new school year as a rising junior, we have the PSAT and important things that are coming up." The Gene and Jerry Jones Family Arlington Youth Foundation sponsored the event, which has provided more than 100,000 backpacks to students over the past 11 years. "Today was about ensuring that all of those resources are lined up so that we can take that load off of the student when they walk into our school buildings," said Arlington ISD Superintendent Dr. Matt Smith. "We want them to be able to focus on learning." Parents who missed the event and still need supplies can contact Arlington ISD's Family and Community Engagement department for assistance.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Trump revives presidential fitness test – will US students run a mile?
Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is re-establishing the presidential fitness test, a way of assessing the fitness level of American students. The test was administered in public middle and high schools in the United States from 1966 to 2013, when the Obama administration replaced it with the presidential youth fitness program – a similar physical assessment program, but with more focus on health education. Related: Let them, creatine and fibermaxxing: the biggest wellness trends of 2025 (so far) The health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr – vaccine skeptic and key figure in the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement – will be in charge of administering the test. In a statement reported by the AP, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said the president 'wants to ensure America's future generations are strong, healthy, and successful' and that young Americans 'have the opportunity to emphasize health, active lifestyles – creating a culture of strength and excellence for years to come'. Below, what you need to know about the presidential fitness test. What is the test? Initiated by Dwight D Eisenhower in 1956, the test changed over the years, but generally consisted of five parts: a one-mile run, a shuttle run (moving as quickly as possible back and forth between two points), pull-ups or push-ups, sit-ups and the sit-and-reach (sitting on the ground with your legs outstretched and seeing how far down your legs your hands can reach). According to the Harvard Health blog, the aim of the test was to 'assess cardiovascular fitness, upper-body and core strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility'. Why did the government start testing children's fitness? The test derives from the Kraus-Weber test for muscular fitness, an assessment developed by Dr Hans Kraus and Dr Sonja Weber. The test was administered to thousands of students across the US and Europe. Researchers found that European students performed significantly better than their American counterparts: 57.9% of US students failed at least one of the test's six exercises, compared with only 8.7% of European students. According to a 1955 Sports Illustrated article, when Kraus presented his findings at the White House, President Eisenhower declared the problem 'a serious one'. The president seemed less worried about children's health and wellbeing than he did their combat preparedness. According to the Department of Health and Human Service's 50th anniversary booklet about the test, 'his chief concern seemed to be the vulnerability to the red army'. 'Our growing softness, our increasing lack of physical fitness, is a menace to our security,' Eisenhower said. Did the presidential fitness test make kids healthier? It doesn't seem so. A 2025 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that from 2007 to 2023, trends had 'significantly worsened' for 'child mortality; chronic physical, developmental and mental health conditions; obesity; sleep health; early puberty; limitations in activity; and physical and emotional symptoms'. And when it comes to competition with Europe, the US is faring even worse than it did before. Dr Christopher Forrest, one of the study's authors, told NPR that back in the 1960s, 'the chance that a child was going to die in the United States was the same as European nations'. But from 2010 to 2023, 'kids in the United States were 80% more likely to die', than those in Europe. Solve the daily Crossword
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business Wire
Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) Equips Athletic Trainers for Success And Hosts Second Annual, Fall Kick Off, Sports Medicine Webinar Mini-Series
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) hosted their second annual Sports Medicine Fall Kick Off Mini-Series, July 29 & 31, to provide athletic trainers with an evidence-based overview in prevention, evaluation, acute management, rehabilitation of special topics, and advances in pediatric and adolescent Sports Medicine. LuskinOIC provides athletic trainers with an evidence-based overview in prevention, evaluation, acute management, rehabilitation of special topics, and advances in pediatric and adolescent Sports Medicine. Share Organized by LuskinOIC Athletic Trainer, Joanna Stover, the live virtual series allows participants to address the gaps in training and reinforces existing knowledge of musculoskeletal conditions, diagnosis, and treatment. Each two-hour session included a live Q&A with clinicians that encourages participants to engage directly with expert presenters. Featured Presenters & Topics Included: Athlete Mental Health by Dr. Emily Miller, MD Heat and Cold Applications in Rehab and Performance Dr. Joshua Goldman, MD Advances in Knee Surgical Techniques in the Adolescent Athlete by Dr. Soroush Baghdadi, MD Cultivating an Inclusive Athletic Training Practice for All by Christine Caron, DPT and Isaac Aguilar, PT Using Effective Documentation/Data to Advocate for Additional Athletic Training Resources by Caitlin Romero- Sanchez, DAT, ATC and Miguel Romero- Sanchez, DAT, ATC Ankle Baseline Functional Testing, Rehab Progressions, and Return to Sport by Tyler Lesher, DHSc, ATC, CSCS (Former UCLA Men's Basketball, private performance therapist) The series is highly beneficial for high school athletic trainers and fellow doctors who work to provide expert care to pediatric and adolescent athletes. The mini-series offers low-cost Continuing Education Units (CEU) credits for Secondary School Trainers (3-4 CEU's) for certified athletic trainers. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: Discuss current best practice in knee surgical techniques for the adolescent athlete Update indications for the use of heat and cold in rehab and sport performance Establish guidelines for mental health Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for the secondary school setting Discuss strategies for cultivating an inclusive athletic training practice and opportunities to get involved in para/adaptive sport Implement effective documentation strategies to advocate for additional resources as a secondary school Assistive Technology (AT) Establish pre-season baseline testing for ankle function, evidence-based rehab progression, and return to sport criteria For more information about the Institute, please visit and follow us @LuskinOIC About Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children was founded in 1911 as Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital and today is the largest pediatric orthopaedic facility on the West Coast, focused solely on musculoskeletal conditions in children. In alliance with UCLA Health and with the support of the LuskinOIC Foundation, we advance pediatric orthopaedics worldwide through outstanding patient care, medical education, and research. Our locations in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Westwood, and Calexico treat the full spectrum of pediatric orthopaedic disorders and injuries. For more information, please visit
