Top education figures criticise pandemic’s disruption to school attendance

Today the Department for Education has published new data on attendance in education and early years settings.

The figures show that 236,000 pupils in state-funded schools in England did not attend school for Covid related reasons on 9 December, up from 208,000 on 25 November.

Commenting on the new figures, Natalie Perera, Chief Executive of the Education Policy Institute think tank said:

“Today’s attendance figures show that the disruption to education caused by Covid is far from over.

“What these figures won’t show is the highly localised picture and the huge differences from school-to-school. Some schools will have been able to continue as normal, while others will have already switched to remote learning.

“The government will need to keep its policies on school Covid management under constant review as we learn more about this variant. It must issue clear advice to school leaders and avoid the widespread confusion that we saw this time last year. Avoiding another schools lockdown must remain the priority.

“Another wave of prolonged disruption to education in the new year would mean that the government would need to consider additional financial support to help schools avoid further unmitigated learning losses.

“Our research has shown that by summer 2021 pupil learning losses were still substantial, particularly for those from poorer backgrounds and those in parts of the North of England and the Midlands. The government must do all it can to prevent pupils from falling behind with their learning again.”

Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, who have called for further Covid guidelines in school settings, said:

“The Prime Minister’s end of term report makes for sorry reading. Boris Johnson has not kept his eye on the ball, and his lack of action in ensuring schools have measures in place to keep on top of ever-increasing Covid infection rates is shocking. Today’s data show that 236,000 pupils were absent from school on 9 December for Covid-19 related reasons, around one in 35 pupils.

“The NEU has been calling for a fit for purpose Plan B for schools, one that increases safety mitigations for schools and colleges and would ensure continuity of education and a control on case counts. It emphasises face coverings, isolation, ventilation, staggered break times, one-way routes around the school site, and guidance on gatherings and access to vaccines for staff.

“How we approach the new year is in the gift of the Prime Minister. He has got us to this place and must not simply rely on the school holiday to halt the rise of Covid in schools. Boris Johnson must bring forward a plan to keep schools and colleges safe and to keep education going. He can start by looking at the NEU’s.”