Young Carers Left Behind in the Classroom, New Figures Warn
A Kent charity says young carers are being “locked out” of their futures – and two of them are heading to Parliament to demand change.
Last updated 11th Mar 2026
Imago, which supports young carers across Kent, is backing a national call on Young Carers Action Day (11 March) for a fairer deal in schools, as new figures show a growing gap in exam results between young carers and their classmates.
Two young people supported by Imago will travel to Westminster to speak directly to MPs about what it’s really like trying to juggle schoolwork with looking after a family member.
‘Futures at risk’
New data released by Carers Trust suggests the futures of hundreds of thousands of young carers across the UK are at risk because of the pressures they face at home.
There are estimated to be over one million young carers aged under 18 in the UK – some as young as five. Their responsibilities often go far beyond what most people would expect of a child. According to the research:
- More than 1 in 5 (22%) regularly get up in the night to help the person they care for
- Around a third help with washing or dressing
- Making reasonable adjustments (for example, flexible deadlines or quiet spaces)
- Almost half (44%) give medicine, including many aged 11 or under
- 1 in 10 (12%) help with family bills or money
Nearly half of young carers say they spend 3–4 hours a day on their caring role – on top of school. More than a third (36%) say they feel tired or worn out in class as a result.
Falling behind at school
Jo Rickword, from Imago said this:
"Young carers are missing on average 23 school days each year."
"So that is essentially the entire month of education that they are missing. For a lot of them, that will be due to the demands of their caring role. "
"For others, it might be due to their living space, their accommodation. It's not being well maintained, well ventilated, so maybe more prone to things like mould and damp."
Those caring duties are having a serious impact on education:
- Fewer than half (46%) of young carers leave secondary school with five GCSE passes including English and Maths
- Young carers are 25% less likely than their peers without caring responsibilities to reach that key milestone
- Fewer than half (49%) leave primary school meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and Maths
- Just 51% of young carers finish school with passes in English and Maths GCSE, compared with 65% of pupils who don’t have a caring role
Imago says that picture is reflected in Kent, where many young carers are struggling to keep up with homework, revision and exams because of what they’re dealing with at home.
A spokesperson from the charity told us that some children are helping with medication, personal care and even family finances before they’ve even left for school – and then are expected to perform just like everyone else in the classroom.
Calling for a Young Carer Lead in every school
On Young Carers Action Day, Imago is supporting Carers Trust’s national campaign for every school, college and university to have a Young Carer Lead – a named member of staff responsible for:
- Identifying young carers
- Understanding their home situation
- Making reasonable adjustments (for example, flexible deadlines or quiet spaces)
- Linking them with specialist support services
The charity says this is a “simple, practical step” that could transform opportunities for young carers in Kent and beyond.
The two Kent young carers heading to Parliament will join others from across the UK at events in Westminster, the Senedd and Holyrood, sharing their stories and explaining directly to decision‑makers what support would actually make a difference.
Concern over mobile phone bans
Carers Trust is also urging the government to make sure any future blanket ban on mobile phones in schools includes exemptions for young carers.
For some, being able to check in with home or respond quickly if a parent’s health worsens is crucial.
Education leaders have warned that removing that flexibility could increase anxiety and make it even harder for young carers to focus on learning.
“A fair chance at the future”
Imago says its message to MPs is simple:
Young carers deserve the same chance as any other child to succeed at school and plan for the future – and that means properly recognising their role and building support around them, not expecting them to cope alone.
If you’re a young carer in Kent, or you work with one and want to know what support is available, you can find out more about Imago’s young carers services on their website or through local schools and GP practices.