Purpose: To examine the effect of educational attainment in primary school on later adolescent
health.
Methods: Education data attainments at age 7 and 11 were linked with (1) primary and secondary
care injury consultation/admissions and (2) the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey.
Cox regression was carried out to examine if attainment in primary school predicts time to injury
in adolescence.
Results: Pupils that achieve attainment at age 7 but not at age 11 (i.e., declining attainment over
time in primary school) are more likely to have an injury during adolescence. These children are
also more likely to self-report drinking in adolescence.
Conclusions: Interventions aimed at children with declining attainment in primary school could
help to improve adolescent health
