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Wreaking havoc: Staff Covid-related absence hitting teaching and learning

Increasing levels of staff absence due to Covid continue to wreak havoc in schools, with budgets at breaking point and the majority of heads warning that teaching and learning is suffering.

With some schools reporting staff absences of more than 10 per cent, the high cost of supply cover and challenges in even sourcing supply staff are hitting hard.

A survey of 567 schools (primary, middle, secondary, and special) and colleges in England, published by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), found that 95 per cent said teaching and learning had been affected by Covid-related pupil and staff absence during the autumn term so far – with 31 per cent saying the impact was severe.

Covid-related pupil absence is currently running at more than 10 per cent in 93 of the schools, the survey found, while staff absence is at more than 10 per cent in 63.

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