A survey, commissioned by charity Parentkind, found unhappiness doubles between children leaving primary and starting secondary school.

The survey, commissioned by the UK’s largest parent charity, Parentkind, found this unhappiness doubles when children leave primary school and start at secondary school.

In the biggest parent poll of its kind, the National Parent Survey for 2025 found the key reasons for kids being unhappy at school are:

• Finding lessons uninteresting (42%)
• Struggling to make or maintain friendships (34%)
• Feeling socially isolated or left out (30%)