To combat rising rates of school refusal, UK educators are deploying AV1 robotic avatars to help anxious students participate in lessons from home. These £3,500 devices, developed by the Norwegian company No Isolation, allow pupils to interact with classmates via a remote interface.
The tripling of SEMH-related absences in six years
The scale of student absenteeism in England has reached a critical juncture , driven largely by a surge in mental health challenges. According to data cited in the report, the number of severely absent pupils with social , emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs has more than tripled over a six-year period, climbing from 8,453 to 27,442. This trend is part of a broader decline in national engagement, with a record 151,000 pupils missing at least half of their schooling last year.
This rise in absenteeism coincides with a dip in overall attendance rates. While school attendance regularly exceeded 95 per cent before the pandemic, those figures have struggled to rebound,falling to 93 per cent in the 2025-26 period. This decline persists despite recent government efforts to crack down on truancy and implement new attendance targets for every school in England.
How the AV1 robot's 'whisper mode' facilitates remote learning
The AV1 robot, manufactured by the Norwegian firm No Isolation, provides a mechanical presence for students who are too anxious to physically enter a classroom. The device features a camera, microphone, and speaker, allowing a child at home to engage with their peers through a dedicated app. To maintain a sense of privacy, the camera is one-way, meaning the student at home can observe the lesson without being seen by the rest of the class.
The technology includes specific features designed to mimic natural classroom interaction. For instance, a specialized "whisper mode" allows the remote student to speak quietly to a classmate sitting directly beside the robot, rather than broadcasting their voice to the entire room. Students can also use a screen to rotate the robot's head 360 degrees, helping them stay oriented with the teacher and their peers. At Moulsham High School in Chelmsford, Essex, students have reported that the technology helped them integrate back into the classroom environment after months of absence.
From Devon to Essex: The rollout of 2,000 robotic avatars
The adoption of this technology is spreading across various local authorities in the UK. As reported by The Mail on Sunday, at least 80 authorities have commissioned the AV1 since the Department for Education first engaged with the technology in 2019. This includes regions such as Somerset, Dorset, Haringey, and Islington in London.
Devon County Council has been a notable adopter, purchasing 16 robots specifically for pupils struggling with worry, anxiety, and overwhelm. Nationwide, more than 2,000 of these units are now in use,serving as a technological bridge for children experiencing "emotionally based school avoidance" (EBSA).
Can technology address the 93% attendance rate decline?
While the technology offers a lifeline, it raises significant questions about the long-term sustainability of such high-cost interventions. With each unit costing £3,500, critics may wonder if these funds could be more effectively used to address the root causes of the mental health crisis. Furthermore, it remains to be seen if robotic presence can truly replace the social benefits of physical attendance.
According to No Isolation's CEO Morten Jorgensen, the technology helps schools meet their statutory duties, noting that 76 per cent of students using the AV1 have successfully returned to the classroom. However, as the Labour government introduces new incentives like "Friday clubs" to boost attendance, the debate continues over whether the solution to school avoidance lies in high-tech hardware or fundamntal shifts in mental health support.
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