Disadvantaged children lost most days of learning due to Covid-19, new research shows
Fiona Simpson
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Children from disadvantaged areas are likely to have lost more days of learning than those from wealthier backgrounds during the pandemic, a new report shows.
Education Policy Institute (EPI) has published a new analysis paper on the latest school attendance figures, the number of days of schooling lost by pupils across the country and how this correlates with geographical disadvantage.
It states that attendance rate in primary schools have been much higher than those in secondary schools - around 90 per cent in most areas during the autumn term - but dropped to around 80 per cent in areas of high disadvantage including Oldham in Manchester, Sandwell in Birmingham and Tower Hamlets in east London.
Secondary school attendance rates were typically between 80 and 90 per cent in most areas but dropped as low as 71 per cent in Oldham and Sandwell, the analysis shows.
This means children in primary and secondary schools in the most disadvantaged areas, with lower GCSE rates prior to the pandemic lost out on more that 10 days of face-to-face learning since schools reopened in September, researchers say.
“Secondary school pupils in Sandwell, Oldham and Rochdale have lost about 13 days of face-to-face schooling over the autumn term," the report states.
“Looking across areas, it also tends to be schools in more disadvantaged areas and those with low past GCSE results that have seen the lowest attendance levels and most days of lost schooling. As a result, inequalities in education are likely to have widened over this term."
It adds that inequalities are likely to widen “significantly” following GCSE and A-level exams in 2021 “even with the delay and advanced notice of content for summer 2021”.
The EPI has called on the government to provide extra resources to help tackle the gap in inequality.
“Extra resources should be targeted at more disadvantaged pupils and those who have lost large amounts of face-to-face schooling,” the report states.
Overall, new data from the Department for Education shows that school attendance rates plummeted across England following October half-term.
The figures come amid a row over the closure of schools in several London boroughs and in Basildon, Essex.
Both Greenwich and Islington councils made U-turns on plans to close schools early for Christmas after being threatened with legal action by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Schools in Waltham Forest and Basildon have also received letters reminding them to stay open until the end of term.
However, schools minister Nick Gibb has renewed his offer to schools to schedule an inset day on Thursday to allow staff a “proper break” from monitoring the track and trace system before Christmas eve next week.
Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said local authorities that decided to move schools and colleges to online learning a few days before the end of term did so due to rising infection rates.
Children of keyworkers and vulnerable pupils would continue to go to school, he said, adding: “The fact that Gavin Williamson and the Prime Minister refuse to see sense and allow the professional judgment of headteachers and local authorities to take precedent is shameful and yet another grave error of judgment in a long line of such errors.
“They should hang their heads in shame. Parents, students and school staff will not forgive this wilful neglect of their safety.”
