The betrayal of the Covid lost generation continues
Children were treated appallingly during the pandemic – they deserve more than the Department for Education is offering
Under Covid restrictions, British children spent more time out of school than anywhere else in Europe, save Italy. The harm this has inflicted upon an entire generation grows clearer by the day.
Just this week, research by the Education Policy Institute shows that, despite some signs of recovery, disadvantaged pupils have not only failed to catch up with their peers but, when it comes to reading ability, the attainment gap has continued to widen since schools reopened. And let’s not forget that children also missed out on sports, drama, music lessons and school trips.
In this context, a new education White Paper, the first in six years, should have set out exactly how the government intends to rectify these wrongs and compensate children for the educational and social experiences they sacrificed. In Opportunity for All, Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi had a chance to reinvigorate schools and teaching in bold, imaginative and ambitious ways. Sadly it seems that children have been let down again.
To compensate children for missing almost half of their school days over a period of 18 months, they are set to gain just a few extra minutes each week. Zahawi’s flagship announcement was that from September 2023, schools will remain open to children for a minimum of 32.5 hours each week.