Pandemic is not over for North East Schools amidst latest attendance figures

Pandemic is not over for North East Schools amidst latest attendance figures

The Department for Education released a summary of student attendance figures this week, showing a drop in all state-funded schools attendance.

While 89.7% of student attendance was recorded on 17th March, it subsequently dropped to 88.6% on 31st March, simultaneously demonstrating that – in spite of the narrative around the pandemic – Covid is not over and schools still need to be protected from its impact.

The impact the pandemic has had on schools in the North East cannot be understated. The region’s schools have been hit particularly hard. These strains are evident in the latest North East attendance figures from FFT Education Data Lab, with the region recording 8.6% weekly absences at secondary level at the beginning of March – the highest in the country. 

Nationally, the number of staff absences is also staying worryingly high. Department for Education figures this week show 20% of all state-funded schools having more than 15% of their teachers and school leaders absent on 31st March, only a small drop from 23% on 17th March. 15% of all state-funded schools had more than 15% of their teaching assistants and other staff absent on 31st March, a drop from 17% on 17th March.

This concern regarding attendance is echoed nationally with ASCL General Secretary Geoff Barton and stating that, despite being pleased at the fall in both pupils and staff absences, ‘the situation remains grave with very severe disruption continuing in many schools and colleges.’ Mr Barton then went on to address the figures, citing that it is very difficult for schools to work in conditions with a significant number of staff members absent.

Mr Barton continued to say ‘we understand the government’s desire to declare Covid over and done with, but that is simply not the reality in schools and colleges, where the illness continues to be a real problem because of the impact on both pupils and the workforce.’

Staff continue to struggle with workloads that are ever-increasing, while going above and beyond for students and their wider school communities.  This balancing act has become even more difficult, however, since the removal of restrictions and with no clear guidance on how schools should manage positive cases. 

Schools North East’s regular roundtables with school leaders have also highlighted a regional trend of growing absences and the impact this is having on schools across the region. While attendance improved after the February half term holiday, schools are now once again facing increasingly difficult operational challenges from the ongoing pandemic. Throughout this term, many schools have been in ‘crisis management’ mode, and are far from ‘back to normal’. This is having a significant impact on staff workload and wellbeing, with limited supply available to cover for staff absences.

In light of the latest attendance figures, it is clear that the ‘return to normal’ principle does not recognise the regional context North East schools are working in.  The North East’s schools continue to persevere admirably throughout the pandemic, staying open despite the number of absences they face and providing children with safe spaces to learn and achieve. 

School staff in the North East are a true credit to their region and the profession as they juggle disadvantages that not only existed prior to the outbreak of Covid, but have been significantly exacerbated by it.