The Chartered College of Teaching has today (1st September) in response to the publication of NFER and Nuffield Foundation’s report into the impact of COVID-19 on teachers and schools along with schools’ plans and concerns ahead of reopening. The findings include:

• Teachers estimate that their pupils are three months behind in learning
• Teachers in the most deprived schools are over three times more likely to report that their pupils are four months or more behind in their learning
• Almost half of pupils are in need of intensive catch-up support, with those from the most deprived schools and schools with the highest proportions of pupils from BAME backgrounds in greatest need.

Professor Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching, said:

“We are all under no illusion that the new term poses many challenges, with lockdown highlighting the lack of equity across our society. This report paints a stark picture of the obstacles we face. Tackling this disadvantage will take more than willing and hard-working teachers doing their best. Appropriate support needs to be made available so that our schools can tailor their teaching to the needs of their students. This will require the government to act. The much-touted ‘levelling up’ of society will only happen if our profession is listened to and their concerns are acted upon.”

Find out about the Chartered College of Teaching’s own report into teaching during lockdown and member views on the potential implications for the future: “Education In Times Of Crisis”.