1 in 5 pupils are missing school because of Covid

1 in 5 pupils are missing school because of Covid

Today it was announced that 1 in 5 pupils in secondary school pupils are missing school. While this was predictable. Schools are a vessel for quite a lot of virus moving around the community. It does beg the question how these pupils can expect to sit exams in 2021.

More than one in five pupils in England missed secondary school last week,



The latest figures show 22% of pupils were missing, based on who was in school last Thursday - up from 17% the previous week.

The teachers' union said there was a chance of a "collapse" in attendance,.

The Department for Education is keeping schools open as a priority.

The challenge is the danger that Covid will rip through schools. said Mary Bousted, co-leader of the National Education Union, with almost 900,000 pupils out of school because of Covid incidents.

Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, backed the keeping schools open. but claimed it was time for schools to be allowed to ‘operate rota systems’.

"The reality behind these figures is that many schools are experiencing disruption on a monumental scale and are desperately trying to cling on to the end of term," said Geoff.

It is obvious to think how this will have a huge effect with exams.

Russell Hobby, chief executive of Teach First, said ‘‘being out of school would be most disruptive for the most disadvantaged.’’

"Studying from home is difficult for all pupils. But our research has found it's pupils from the poorest backgrounds who are the least likely to have laptops and internet while self-isolating, making it nearly impossible for them," he said.