Back to School 2024: What We Learned from Parents

How did parents feel about kids going back to school this year? We conducted a survey to find out.

As part of our latest Back to School pulse survey, we reached out to a wide range of parents across the UK and received responses from some members of our Angelfish Opinions community with school-aged children.

Conducted in August 2024, this survey aimed to uncover the key stressors and concerns parents face as they prepare their children to return to school. Here’s a summary of the insights we gathered. 

Who we asked 

Our survey captured feedback from engaged parents with children spanning various age groups, from early years to secondary school. These parents offered a diverse perspective on the challenges they faced during the summer holidays and their preparations for the upcoming school term. 

Key findings 

Here are the standout results from our survey: 

Managing childcare over the summer

Around a third of parents said they managed childcare by taking time off work, while 16% relied on summer clubs or camps. Grandparents, other relatives, and even babysitters played smaller roles, but working from home helped about a third of respondents juggle their responsibilities.

Unexpected financial pressures

For many parents, the cost of managing the summer break exceeded expectations, with 40% finding it higher than expected. Only 2% said it was lower than anticipated, and the remainder felt the costs were in line with their planning.

Mixed emotions about back-to-school preparations

While 28% of parents reported feeling excited and prepared, a significant portion (38%) felt somewhat prepared but anxious, and 5% expressed concern about the challenges ahead. A small percentage (4%) were completely overwhelmed.

Surprising insights 

Two points really stood out to us: 

Back-to-school spending

Over a third of parents (34%) planned to spend £100-£199 on back-to-school items, with 25% budgeting between £200-£299. Interestingly, 10% anticipated spending over £300 on school essentials like uniforms and stationery.

Technology in education

With over half of respondents stating that technology is now essential for daily learning, it's clear that digital tools are playing a pivotal role in modern education. Only 1% reported that technology isn’t used at all in their children’s education. 

This pulse survey has provided some fascinating insights into the pressures and concerns parents face as they navigate the summer holidays and prepare for the new school year. Understanding these challenges can help us refine our fieldwork and support clients seeking valuable insights into family life. 

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Whether you’re planning an upcoming pitch or finalising your research, Angelfish Fieldwork can help with insights and support. Explore some of our recent pulse surveys—find out what people thought about the 2024 Olympics and the 2024 Election results—and see how we can help you succeed. Get in touch today!