NASUWT responds to PAC report on education recovery in schools

Responding to the Public Accounts Committee’s warnings that the prospects of a generation could be damaged without greater focused and concerted action from the Government to address attainment and attendance gaps among pupils post-pandemic, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union, said:

“We warned that the Government’s catch up plans were wholly inadequate to deal with the profound challenges experienced by children and young people as a result of the pandemic.

“It is now abundantly clear that Government policy is failing to deliver for a generation of children and young people.

“The Government has failed to deliver the levels of investment, infrastructure and support that schools need to secure an effective post-pandemic education recovery.

“Schools and wider children’s services are continuing to endure real terms cuts at a time when the Government is presiding over real terms cuts to vital services.

“Whilst schools are trying their best, a lack of investment is also leading to teachers and headteachers leaving the profession prematurely due to unsustainable workload pressures.

“A fully-funded national recovery plan for children and young people must be a priority for any Government that cares about children’s futures.”