Schools have been unable to avoid an ‘epidemic of demotivated children’ in lockdown, England’s chief schools inspector said today.
Amanda Spielman told the conference of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) that young children have lost skills as basic as ‘using a pencil’ during months of home learning.
She added that some parents have simply not had the time to help their children focus on schoolwork during closures, which came to an end on March 8.
The Ofsted chief also said that shortening the summer holidays to help pupils catch up with schooling will only ‘work well’ if they are supported by parents so it does not feel like a ‘punishment’.
Ms Speilman stressed that many parents are sceptical about shortening the summer break, as ‘children need time with their grandparents’ and friends after a year of restrictions.
Her comments came after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that a change to the summer holidays and longer school days are being examined as part of long-term recovery plans for pupils.
This year, secondary schools are being asked to deliver summer schools as part of the Government’s £1.7billion catch-up programme for children in England who have faced disruption due to the pandemic.
Amanda Spielman (seen above) told the Association of School and College Leaders that many parents are sceptical about shortening the summer break
Addressing the ASCL, Ms Spielman warned that attainment gaps could be widened if pupils most in need of help do not turn up for extra classes.
She said: ‘I also believe that extensions of schooling will work well only if they’re well supported by families so that they don’t feel like a punishment for children or for their parents.’
On calls to shorten the summer holidays, Ms Spielman added: ‘Parents know that after a year of heavy restrictions, children need time with their grandparents, with their friends, to get out of the house and enjoy themselves again.
‘These are things that will help them learn well in school.
‘So we really need to work with the grain. Without parental support the children who most need help may simply not turn up.
The Ofsted chief (seen today) said schools have not been able to ‘avert an epidemic of demotivated children’ in lockdown
Year 10 students wait to take a coronavirus test at the Harris Academy in Beckenham
‘Or if they have to stay longer in the classroom they may switch off and then the extra time could be wasted. That risks widening gaps, not closing them.’
England’s chief schools inspector also today warned against ‘racing through subjects at pace’ so everything is covered but ‘little is covered well’.
Ms Spielman said: ‘So this really is about schools and colleges making intelligent choices, not just cramming everything in.
‘What do children and young people absolutely have to know? What are the building blocks that will help them move on to the next stage? What’s less important?
‘And crucially, how does this differ from subject to subject? The approach that works for history might not work for maths.
‘Compromises will have to be made, but please don’t assume that from our perspective, superficial but nominally complete is the way to go.’
Schools in England reopened for pupils of all age on March 8 following another lengthy break
Attendance is compulsory unless students are shielding, but Government figures show that 700,000 pupils are still yet to return to the classroom
During the speech to headteachers, Ms Spielman said almost every child, regardless of background, has been affected by school closures.
She said: ‘Being cooped up for weeks and months on end has piled on the misery for otherwise sociable and active children.
‘So many have been bored and lonely and getting very little exercise. Teachers have even reported to us young children losing very basic skills such as using a pencil.’
Ms Spielman added: ‘With the best will in the world, schools haven’t been able to avert an epidemic of demotivated children.’
Schools in England reopened for pupils of all age on March 8 following another lengthy break.
Attendance is compulsory unless students are shielding, but Government figures show that 700,000 pupils are still yet to return to the classroom.
Ms Spielman said: ‘It does feel as though education is on firmer ground this time.
‘I’m sure that opening schools was absolutely the right decision for children. They’ve missed out on so much through these repeated lockdowns.’
Statistics from the Department for Education show that around 89 per cent of secondary school pupils were in class on March 15 – a week after secondary schools began to stagger the return of pupils for mass testing.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed that a change to the summer holidays and longer school days are being examined as part of long-term recovery plans for pupils
This number was much higher in primary schools, with 96 per cent of pupils attending class at the start of last week, falling to 94 per cent by March 15.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has warned that attendance levels will ‘be bumpy’ as pupils testing positive for Covid-19, and their close contacts, are still being sent home to self-isolate.
The data suggests more than 60,000 pupils were out of class last week as they were self-isolating due to a possible contact with a Covid case.
Millions of pupils in England began returning to class last week after months of remote education.
Secondary schools were given flexibility to stagger the return of their pupils last week, as these students are being asked to take voluntary Covid-19 tests on site as part of their return to class.
Overall, attendance in state schools steadily increased from 68 per cent on March 8 to 89 per cent on Thursday March 11.
The Department for Education (DfE) estimates that approximately 1 per cent of all state school pupils did not attend school for Covid-related reasons on Thursday last week.
This includes 33,000 pupils who have been self-isolating due to a potential contact with a Covid-19 case from inside the educational setting, and a further 31,000 pupils self-isolating due to a possible contact outside of school.
Meanwhile, 7,000 pupils were absent because they suspected they had Covid, 5,000 were off after testing positive for Covid, and 2,000 were absent as their school was closed due to Covid reasons.