10pc of pupils miss school due to Covid

Up to one in 10 children in Bath and North East Somerset was missing school due to Covid-19 before the Christmas break.

New data from the Department for Education (DFE) show up to 10 per cent of children in primary and secondary schools were not physically in class due to the virus.

This is lower than the peak rate of up to 16 per cent of children which was seen on November 19. The 16 per cent rate was the highest since schools reopened in September.

The newest figures combine upper estimates of pupils who have confirmed or suspected cases of the virus, along with pupils selfisolating because of potential contact with a virus carrier and pupils in schools closed due to Covid-19.

The figures are based on reports from schools, with not all providing data, which are used to estimate numbers of children affected.

The number of schools in Bath and North East Somerset reporting at least one pupil as self-isolating due to Covid-19 rose from four on October 15 to 15 on December 10.

It is important to note that many of these children will still be attending remote classes while isolating.

But, following a report looking at the impact of self-isolation on education, Ofsted’s chief inspector has said remote learning, while it is better than nothing, is no substitute for the physical classroom.

Nationally, between seven and nine per cent of children did not attend school for Covid-19-related reasons before the holidays.

At that time, 99 per cent of state schools were open, compared to 100 per cent (rounded) the week before. The DFE says this decrease is due to more schools being closed for Covid-19 reasons.

The country also saw a steady increase in November in the number of schools reporting that they had at least one student self-isolating, reaching 36 per cent on November 19.

After half-term, pupil attendance decreased in all regions, before recovering in late November and December, but not to levels of attendance seen in October.

Attendance was highest in the South West and East of England throughout most of the autumn term, at 90 per cent and 89 per cent respectively.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “These attendance figures that have been hidden from the public for so long show just what a profound impact coronavirus has had on schooling in many areas. For example, Hull has had less than 60 per cent attendance in their secondary schools for much of the last half-term.

“In these circumstances, we cannot see how it is fair on these pupils to sit exams under the same conditions as pupils in York or West Sussex where secondary attendance averaged 90 per cent over the term.”

Ofsted has released a report looking into the effects of Covid-19 on schools across the country.

The organisation found that repeated isolation has been chipping away at progress made by children since returning to school in September. It also found that remote learning has varying effectiveness and is especially difficult for those with special educational needs and disabilities.

Amanda Spielman, chief inspector at Ofsted, said: “While remote education is better than nothing, it’s no substitute for the classroom.

“Schools are struggling to assess whether remote learning is effective or not.

“For many, the measure of success is whether or not children are engaging with the work at all, rather than whether they are developing their knowledge and understanding – a case of remote attendance, rather than remote learning.”

But she commended the work ethic of the education sector during this time: “Faced with all of these pressures, the education and social care sectors are showing considerable resilience and creativity to provide children and learners with the best experience they can.

“And all of this is being done against the most challenging backdrop for staff in recent times.

“There is real optimism that the end is finally in sight for the sort of restrictions that we currently live under, but it’s clear that there is a long way to go before education and social care returns to normal.

“For many children, there is more to be done: to catch them up, to level the playing field and to prepare them well for the next stage in their lives.”

While remote education is better than nothing, it’s no substitute for the classroom. Schools are struggling to assess whether remote learning is effective or not. Amanda Spielman, Ofsted