Commenting on the National Foundation for Educational Research
policy briefing, in which school leaders warn that the current
approach to learning recovery is “misconceived and inadequate”,
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said:
“This policy briefing from the National Foundation for
Educational Research gives some worrying insight into how some of
our young people have suffered during the pandemic.
“It is concerning, but not overly surprising, to hear that
students in some of our most disadvantaged communities are
suffering badly from the effects of the severe disruption to
education experienced over the last 16 months.
“The disruption to normal school routines, combined with
anxieties over exams and family issues over finances, illness and
bereavement will have had a profound effect on those students who
were already classed as vulnerable before the restrictions began.
“It is even more worrying to hear that school and college leaders
are also reporting concerns about students with no previous
history of issues with their mental health and wellbeing,
including younger children.
“The government rhetoric is to constantly refer to tutoring as
the solution to educational disruption but this report hints at a
more fundamental problem caused by the breakdown of normal
routines in our schools and colleges during the pandemic.
“The education recovery funding so far announced by the
government is woefully inadequate and provides school and college
leaders with precious little support to address the significant
issues now affecting our young people, including their mental
health and wellbeing.”
