School days can be demanding for anyone, but for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), particularly those on the autism spectrum, navigating the sensory environment, social interactions, and academic expectations can require a lot of energy. To understand and support autistic students, we have to listen to their experiences.
The following account is generously shared through an interview with a 16-year-old autistic student in the UK, offering a window into their typical school day; the challenges, routines, and the small details that make a difference. We have anonymised all the identifying information and collaborated with the parents to record this ‘day in the life’.
Please remember, autism is a spectrum, and whilst this is one individual's reality, it provides valuable insight into the perspectives.
Waking and Getting Ready For School
6:45 AM: I have my phone alarm set to vibrate under the pillow. I hate the sound of actual alarms. Waking up feels horrible because everything’s loud and bright too quickly.
I like to run through my timetable in my head. I like maths, it makes sense and I like the rules. Then English. Poems again. I hate that we have to read out loud in front of the class. PSHE after, probably awkward group stuff about feelings. History after that is interesting, but Mrs Davis talks so fast my notes get messy.
My mum always calls me from downstairs. My uniform always feels wrong. The seam on the shirt is annoying, it’s always so scratchy. Coco Pops in my bowl, I like its shape. The spoon fits the curve so that it's easier to get the last of the milk. I don’t like it when my brother eats downstairs, he always annoys me.
Pack my bag. Pens and pencils, folders in order of the lessons for today, calculator. I don’t like it if I have left anything at home. My mum helps me remember things: revision club, dentist next week. I don’t like it if she tells me too much at once and I can't remember it all.
Getting to School
8:00 AM: Walk to the bus stop. I like listening to Terry Pratchett’s audiobooks. I really like his sense of homour. Keep my head down. I always sit in my usual seat.
I don’t like the bus as people do all sorts of things. Someone is playing music out loud and I don’t know how to block it out. Stare out the window, focus on the book and turn the volume up a bit, but all I can hear is the noise.
8:30 AM: School is already busy. People always shout over the other noise, but I have to take my headphones out here.
The School Day
8:40 AM: Form time. Teacher reading notices but also chats about other stuff. Can’t tell what's important.
9:00 AM: Double Maths maths is my favourite lesson for today. I finish quickly and quietly. Then English. Tiring. Teacher asks me to explain character feelings. I say what actually happened. Silence. Got it wrong again.
11:45 AM: Break time. Corridors are loud and crowded. Straight to the library. I draw or do homework. I am tired of all the people.
12:05 PM: PSHE. Group work again. Anxiety. I stay quiet mostly.
13:00 PM: Lunch. Avoid canteen, too loud, mixed smells. Eat packed lunch in the art rooms, it’s quiet and I like the teacher. Sketch in my notebook, I always sit with the same person at lunch. Other groups are too loud.
2:00 PM: Geography. Finding it hard to concentrate. The lights in this block buzz and hurt my eyes. I like to close my eyes and just listen.
3:50 PM: End of school. Still have the crowded corridors and the bus. Headphones back on. Have to have them.
Heading Home
4:20 PM: Home. I go to my room and listen to my book. I like to sit with my blanket and look at minerals. I love the colours and the crystal shapes. I want to go to Dorset to look for some pyrite soon. My mum brings me a tea.
Homework. Often I end up staring at a blank page. I like planning essays but hate writing them, my brain just gets stuck. Sometimes I get lost researching stuff.
7:00 PM: Dinner. This is usually fine if my brother is quiet.
When dinner is finished I go back upstairs and watch new videos on youtube or read blogs or sketch.
Prepare for tomorrow. I have to get my stuff ready or I can’t sleep.
10:00 PM: Try winding down. Listen to my book or music. Usually my brain won't stop. I get anxious about my day at school or my homework or something else.
Ending the Day with Fatigue
It’s hard knowing where I fit at school. Everyone else seems to know how to act in groups, but I always feel a bit out of it, like I don’t fit there. I don't really care about being 'popular', but I hate feeling like the odd one out or worrying that people think I'm weird just because I don't act the same way or like the same stuff. It would just be nice to be accepted and then I could relax. Or at least left alone without feeling like I'm constantly being watched or guilty.
Conclusion
This account clearly shows the daily effort and resilience involved in navigating school with autism. If this resonates with your experience, know that understanding is the first step towards finding support. At Sunbeam Education, we listen to students and provide personalised support to help manage the school day and build confidence.
