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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Covid disruption gets worse for secondary schools | Covid disruption gets worse for secondary schools |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| More than one in five secondary pupils in England missed school last week, with worsening Covid disruption. | More than one in five secondary pupils in England missed school last week, with worsening Covid disruption. |
| The latest attendance figures show 22% of secondary pupils were missing, based on who was in school last Thursday - up from 17% the previous week. | The latest attendance figures show 22% of secondary pupils were missing, based on who was in school last Thursday - up from 17% the previous week. |
| The biggest teachers' union warned of a "collapse" in attendance, with almost three quarters of secondary schools sending home pupils. | The biggest teachers' union warned of a "collapse" in attendance, with almost three quarters of secondary schools sending home pupils. |
| The Department for Education says keeping schools open is a "priority". | The Department for Education says keeping schools open is a "priority". |
| 'Collapse' in attendance | 'Collapse' in attendance |
| "The situation has reached a crisis point and the government cannot let coronavirus run riot in schools any longer," said Mary Bousted, co-leader of the National Education Union, with almost 900,000 pupils out of school because of Covid incidents. | "The situation has reached a crisis point and the government cannot let coronavirus run riot in schools any longer," said Mary Bousted, co-leader of the National Education Union, with almost 900,000 pupils out of school because of Covid incidents. |
| Pupils sent home in half of England's secondary schools | Pupils sent home in half of England's secondary schools |
| More secondary pupils missing lessons during pandemic | More secondary pupils missing lessons during pandemic |
| Almost one in five secondary schools sending pupils home | Almost one in five secondary schools sending pupils home |
| Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, backed the principle of keeping schools open, but said it was time for schools to be allowed to operate rota systems. | Geoff Barton, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, backed the principle of keeping schools open, but said 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 the heads' leader. | "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 the heads' leader. |
| There have been concerns about how exams will go ahead next summer when so many pupils have been missing lessons. | |
| 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. | |
| Self-isolating | |
| Overall attendance is down to 83% of pupils, below 86% in the previous week - and although the way figures were gathered changed in October, they show attendance dipping since half term. | Overall attendance is down to 83% of pupils, below 86% in the previous week - and although the way figures were gathered changed in October, they show attendance dipping since half term. |
| This fall is particularly concentrated in secondary schools, with 78% in class last Thursday, down from 87% on 5 November. | This fall is particularly concentrated in secondary schools, with 78% in class last Thursday, down from 87% on 5 November. |
| There have been worries about how exams will go ahead next summer | |
| Across both primary and secondary schools, the figures show about one in 10 pupils were out of school because of Covid-related concerns. | Across both primary and secondary schools, the figures show about one in 10 pupils were out of school because of Covid-related concerns. |
| The great majority of pupils being sent home are because of potential contacts - rather than pupils having caught coronavirus, with only 0.2% of pupils recorded as confirmed cases. | The great majority of pupils being sent home are because of potential contacts - rather than pupils having caught coronavirus, with only 0.2% of pupils recorded as confirmed cases. |
| Primary schools have so far been less disrupted, with 87% of pupils attending - but the number of schools sending home one more pupils has risen to 29%, compared with 22% the week before. | Primary schools have so far been less disrupted, with 87% of pupils attending - but the number of schools sending home one more pupils has risen to 29%, compared with 22% the week before. |
| Among secondary schools, 73% were sending home pupils, compared with 64% the week before. | Among secondary schools, 73% were sending home pupils, compared with 64% the week before. |
| A Department for Education spokeswoman said almost all schools had remained open this term - and there was online learning for those pupils who were self-isolating. | A Department for Education spokeswoman said almost all schools had remained open this term - and there was online learning for those pupils who were self-isolating. |
| "It is a national priority to keep education settings open full-time, and that remains equally as important in the weeks up to the end of term as it was when young people returned for the new school year," said the DFE spokeswoman. | "It is a national priority to keep education settings open full-time, and that remains equally as important in the weeks up to the end of term as it was when young people returned for the new school year," said the DFE spokeswoman. |
| Has your child's education been disrupted? Or are you a teacher whose work has been affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Has your child's education been disrupted? Or are you a teacher whose work has been affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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