Early Signs (Secondary Age)

In secondary school, academic demands, social complexity and organisation requirements increase sharply. Difficulties may appear or intensify at this stage.

Organisation and learning

• Regularly losing equipment, homework or timetable.
• Struggling to keep up with note-taking or written work.
• Strong verbal ability but poor test performance.
• Extreme stress around exams or timed tasks.

Social and emotional

• Isolation or spending breaks alone.
• Friendship conflicts or bullying.
• School avoidance or frequent ‘illness’ on school days.
• Self-criticism, perfectionism or very low self-esteem.

Behaviour and mental health

• Sudden behaviour changes (shutting down or acting out).
• Risky behaviour, self-harm, or substance use (seek urgent support).
• Obvious burnout from masking all day.

Next steps

Talk with your child, the form tutor and SENCO. Consider asking your GP about mental health or neurodevelopmental assessments if concerns persist.