Today, we have published The long-term outcomes of school absence.
Even short absences at age 13 predict poorer educational outcomes, including lower Leaving Certificate grades. 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. More prolonged absence is linked to being less likely to be in a professional or managerial job and to lower employment income.
Chronic absence disrupts key developmental processes, contributing to higher stress, depressive symptoms, poorer physical health and social alienation at ages 20 and 25.
Download: The long-term outcomes of school absence
Read the accompanying press release.
For further information, please contact:
Prof Emer Smyth, Research Professor, ESRI
[email protected]
This report has been accepted for publication by the Institute, which does not itself take institutional policy positions. The report has been peer-reviewed prior to publication. The authors are solely responsible for the content and the views expressed. | 
