Robots Step In for Anxious Students as School Avoidance Rises

Anxious schoolchildren unable to attend physical classes are increasingly being represented by telepresence robots, allowing them to participate in lessons remotely. The AV1 robot, a device costing approximately £3,500, enables students to see, hear, and speak in their classrooms via an app, with over 2,000 units reportedly in use across the United Kingdom.

These robots are particularly utilized by children experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), a condition characterized by chronic refusal to attend school driven by anxiety. Teachers place the robot at the student's usual desk, facilitating interaction as if the student were present. The absent pupil can respond to questions and even control the robot's head movement remotely.

A 'whisper mode' allows for private communication between the remote student and a classmate. The robot's camera is one-way, ensuring the home-based student can observe and listen without being seen by the entire class. Initially developed by Norwegian firm No Isolation to help children in hospitals stay connected to their education, the AV1 robots have found a wider application in addressing school non-attendance.

Local authorities have been investing in this technology. Devon County Council, for example, purchased 16 robots last year for pupils struggling with "worry, anxiety and overwhelm." This initiative aligns with a broader national trend, as at least 80 councils have adopted the AV1 robot since the Department for Education commissioned its use in 2019. The robots are being deployed in areas such as Somerset, Dorset, and London boroughs like Haringey and Islington.

Schools utilizing the robots report positive outcomes. Moulsham High School in Chelmsford, Essex, which has deployed 20 AV1 units, has seen students benefit significantly. One Year 11 student credited the robot with maintaining their academic level during a period of absence due to anxiety, stating, "Without the AV1, I don’t think I’d be at the level I am at the moment." The student added that the robot helped ease their transition back into the classroom and ultimately encouraged daily attendance.

The use of these robots comes amid a sharp rise in severe school absenteeism. The number of pupils with significant 'social, emotional and mental health' needs who are severely absent has more than tripled in six years, escalating from 8,453 to 27,442. Last year, a record 151,000 pupils missed at least half of their schooling, a stark increase from the pre-pandemic figure of 60,247. Overall attendance rates, which were consistently above 95 percent before COVID-19, have struggled to recover, standing at 93 percent in the 2025-26 academic year.

Despite increased efforts to combat truancy, which has been exacerbated by pandemic-related school closures, attendance remains a challenge. The Labour party recently announced plans for schools in England to receive individual attendance targets, with initiatives like 'Friday clubs' being encouraged to boost end-of-week attendance.

Morten Jorgensen, CEO of No Isolation, highlighted school absence as a major educational challenge, largely attributed to the rise in EBSA. He stated that AV1 technology helps schools fulfill their statutory obligations, noting that "76 percent of students using AV1 have returned to the classroom" this year, demonstrating substantial benefits for students, schools, and local authorities.