Get his father to act like a man and confront him - it is his role in the family to pull this kid into line.

Hey, as a teacher I can offer a bit of advice on this one. Is he going to school late or not at all?

Firstly - have you spoken to the school? What have they said? Some schools are really strict on punctuality, although there isn't really much that the school can do to enforce it. There isn't a lot that the school can do before the kids arrive. So talk to his home group teacher. Ask if there are any other students with similar issues - was there anything which worked for them?

However, the school is limited with how much it can do - in many ways the school can only deal with the students one they are actually there. One option for you may be to speak with the school, and find out what time he is arriving each day (if he's arriving late.) Keep track of these - 30 min late on monday, 20 min late tues, 60 min wed or whatever. When he accrues an hour of lateness - then he makes up that hour. Perhaps this could be a Friday afternoon detention - but I don't know how his school's behaviour managment works. Talk with the school. If you let them know that you are looking to work with them on this (rather than making it their problem instead of yours) then you can see what your options are.

It may be something you have to do at home - if he accrued 1 hour and 20 min of lateness during the week, then it's an hour and 20 min of doing really crap jobs on the weekend. (You'll still need to call the school office and find out what time he is getting there)  Does he like gardening? If not - then make him mow the lawn anddo yard for for one hour and 20 mins. If he doesn't like that, make him do an hour and 20 min of washing up and ironing clothes. And that's an hour and 20 mins of hard work - not fart arseing about. If you think that he's slacking off, keep adding time. I know that enforcing these things is hard - and inconvenient. It means that you can't do anything the weekend - it's like you're on detention too! But if you are consistent for a few weeks, he should get the message. He will spend time doing useful things - it's up to him if that is being at school or doing crap chores.

If he's not going at all, then make up the time for chores that he missed that day. You may have to send him to mow your neighbours' lawn becuase you'll run out of jobs! Hopefully only a few days of realising he has to make up time lost will ge the message across that he can do things the hard way (chores) or the easy way (show up at school).

Good luck - let me know how he goes!

It sounds to me like he is just lazy and doesn't want to get out of bed. If he were my son I would not leave him to get ready alone. I would set the alarm and insist that he is out of bed and getting ready along with the rest of the family! if that means getting up earlier then he has to, too bad! he has proven that he cannot be trusted. I would -also find some form of punishment  - forget rewards - children do not deserve rewards for doing what is expected of them! Maybe he should have to go to bed early on the weekend - say, 8pm! Taking away Playstations, Xbox etc is also a very good strategy or perhaps dessert - whatever is going to cause discomfort to his life.

It may sound harsh, but I believe that children need to be taught rules and submit to authority. Getting to school on time each day is good training for arriving at work on time. You need to consider how he will cope when he is an adult. He needs to be taught to be responsible. What sorts of consequences does the school have in place for children who are consistently late or truanting? I know at my school (I am a high school teacher) students who are late consistently are required to pick up papers. Truanters are given in school suspensions or even suspension, depending of the level of the problem.

My son attends a private school - the rules are very strict. Truanters are given SATURDAY morning detention - must turn up in full school uniform.

I also have a friend who had a similiar problem - teenage son who would not get out of bed - she got a bucket of cold water and tipped it over him! I don't think that I would resort to this, but it certainly worked!

Im not a mum of a teen..

But if this was my son, i would be calling the school and asking for a meeting with the principal and teacher to find out is there any reason why your son doesnt want to go to school...

also could you and your husband sit down with him in a non attack(as some kids feel attacked by their parents if confronted) way and ask him to open up and tell you both why he doesnt want to attend school and come up with some results so he can enjoy being there....

Hope some others with teens give u some ideas...

xx cazza