HOW AN EDUCATION GAVE ME NEW HOPE

HE DIDN'T finish a whole week at school after primary and left secondary with no GCSEs and his confidence at rock-bottom. With latest school attendance figures still down post-pandemic, Alex Chichester's experience is not unique. As he says himself: "There were loads like me at school."

- Abbie Wightwick reports on how Cardiff City FC's education programme changed an unhappy teenager's view of life

Alex admits he didn't help himself. He played up to get sent home or just didn't turn up. But he believes more could be done for children and teenagers who struggle to get back on track after falling behind.

Two years after leaving secondary, fearing he'd "end up homeless", the 18-year-old is now on course to complete the equivalent of three A-levels with help from his local football club. It's a result he, his mum and probably his former teachers never dreamed of.

Alex's problems began all the way back in Year Three of primary. Not enjoying school, he messed around to get himself sent home. And so began a vicious circle he found it harder to escape the more he fell behind his classmates.

Once he started secondary, Alex was only going in two or three days a week. Not able to follow work in lessons at Cardiff West Community High, he felt embarrassed to ask for help and bunked off even more.

Soon Alex got in trouble and was sent to "isolation", which he said made him "hate school even more". He liked art and PE but said his teachers stopped him attending PE lessons as punishment for playing up or going absent, which piled on more negative feelings.

In Year 10 the school put him into a class for persistent absentees where Alex said he got more support. But by this time it all felt too late.

Alex was only going in around one day a week by this point. By the end of Year 11 he was pleased to leave school for good.

But despite the external bravado, Alex was worried about his future. He felt that only his mother was supporting him.

Looking back, he says his problems began as far back as age seven or eight when he started missing school at Trelai Primary, a habit which became harder to break the longer it went on.

"By Year Three at Trelai, I did not really get on with anyone at school. I would go in but get myself sent home," he said.