![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0023f63d-614.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\nA new study has found that school absence leads to lower educational qualifications and poorer wellbeing in early adulthood.<\/p>\n
The report from the ESRI shows even short spells of absence of one to two days at age 13 are linked to lower Leaving Certificate grades.<\/p>\n
It found that if a child misses 20 days or more of school every year this can lead to a performance gap of over 80 Leaving Certificate points.<\/p>\n
It said the performance gap is evident across all social groups and there is no evidence that more advantaged families can successfully counter the negative effects of absenteeism for their children.<\/p>\n
The report shows that longer school absence at age 13 is significantly related to lower chances of going on to higher education and of achieving a degree by age 25.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Young people with prolonged absence from school are more negative about the benefits of their schooling to their broader social and personal development.<\/p>\n
The study also found that people who attend a school with a higher prevalence of chronic absence achieve lower Leaving Certificate points.<\/p>\n
Even young people who have good attendance have poorer outcomes if school-level absence is higher.<\/p>\n
Read the report in full here<\/a><\/p>\n The report shows that chronic absence at ages nine and 13 is predictive of depressive symptoms and higher stress levels at both 20 and 25 years.<\/p>\n Life satisfaction at 20 and 25 years of age is much lower among those who were persistently absent from school at age 13.<\/p>\n The study shows that those who have higher levels of absence at age 13 report poorer physical health at ages 20 and 25.<\/p>\n Co-author of the report Emer Smyth said: “School absence emerges as an important driver of later inequality, with very significant negative consequences for educational attainment, health, wellbeing and social belonging.<\/p>\n “The findings highlight the urgency of addressing school absence, especially given the higher levels apparent since the pandemic.”<\/p>\n Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said: \u2018Regular school attendance plays a vital role not only in academic achievement but in supporting young people’s wellbeing, confidence and future opportunities.<\/p>\n “This important research highlights the lasting impact that even relatively short periods of absence can have on educational outcomes and life chances.”<\/p>\n We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences<\/a><\/p>\n Professor Smyth said about a fifth of the students across primary and secondary fulfil the definition of chronic absence from school, missing 20 days or more.<\/p>\n Speaking on RT\u00c9’s Morning Ireland, she said there has been a massive increase in days missed in the wake of the COVID pandemic, and that more disadvantaged groups are more likely to be absent.<\/p>\n However, she said the effect is the same across all social classes and genders.<\/p>\n Prof Smyth said that between the ages 20 and 25, young people who have been absent a lot from school, have been found to be less satisfied with their lives and more likely to have depressive symptoms and high stress levels.<\/p>\n They also have weaker social ties, less sense of belonging and less sense of general trust in other people, she said.<\/p>\n Prof Smyth said that the relationship between the level of absence and level of underperformance is linear, and missing more than ten days at school means students are 16% less likely to go on and get a degree by the time they are 25.<\/p>\n The research found more experience of unemployment and being out of the workforce for the group who were chronically absent and slightly lower income levels.<\/p>\n Prof Smyth said that school absence impacts wellbeing, education outcomes and life chances.<\/p>\n![\"Graph](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0023f63b-614.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n