News

Covid-19: Online misinformation and unclear national guidance hampering schools

Misinformation about Covid-19, often peddled on social media, is causing “confusion and parental anxiety” and hampering schools’ efforts to fully re-open this term.


It comes as more than a third of the schools visited by Ofsted during September reported an increase in the number of children being removed from the school and home-educated because of anxiety about Covid-19.

The issue is raised in Ofsted’s first Covid-19 briefing report of the autumn term, which is based on visits by inspectors to 121 schools – including 71 primary and 40 secondary (Ofsted, 2020).

Inspectors report a mixed approach to curriculum coverage, with some schools returning immediately to teaching all subjects and others preferring a gradual approach focused on foundation subjects and reading.

The report also raises concerns that remote education for pupils self-isolating was “in many cases” not fully aligned with the curriculum being taught in the classroom.

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