NEWS...
One in three teachers thinking of leaving profession due to “unbearable
pressure” during Covid-19 Schools are on the verge of a staffing crisis, as one in three (34%) teachers are considering leaving the profession as a result of “unbearable pressure”, according to new research from specialist insurer Ecclesiastical. Covid-19 has created many challenges for teaching staff in primary,
secondary and independent schools across the UK. A survey of 500 teachers found that the biggest challenges facing schools include pupil stress and anxiety (65%), increased pressure on staff to help pupils catch up (64%) and pupils struggling to catch up on time lost (58%). The survey, commissioned by Ecclesiastical and conducted prior to some
schools returning from the third nationwide lockdown, found that over half (56%) of teachers say that the pandemic has increased their workload, with two thirds (66%) finding the third lockdown more difficult to manage in terms of delivering online lessons, supporting pupils to cope with online learning fatigue and meeting expectations of online learning. These pressures on school staff have resulted in two in five (41%) teachers
say they are struggling to cope. More than three quarters (77%) of teachers surveyed say that their school
has seen an increase in staff mental health concerns since the start of Covid- 19, with nearly one in four (24%) saying this has increased greatly. Furthermore, 80% of respondents say that they have seen an increase in staff anxiety overall. Many schools have put additional measures in place to support their
people through the pandemic – more than three quarters (76%) of teachers say that their school has provided additional wellbeing support in response to Covid-19 – though the impact has yet to be felt. Nearly six in 10 (57%) believe their school needs to do more to support staff wellbeing and 24% of respondents said that no additional support was being provided at all. Teachers have also reported concerns about pupils’ mental health since the
third lockdown. Three quarters (75%) of teachers say concerns about pupil mental health have increased since January 2021. Eight in 10 (80%) have seen an increase in pupil anxiety during this time.
uwww.ecclesiastical.com
School designs bespoke test
tube holders for Covid testing Pupils at Elutec Academy in Dagenham stepped in to develop vital equipment for local Covid testing sites when all other options failed. Elutec Academy was asked
if they could use their engineering skills to produce bespoke test tube holders for COVID-19 testing sites in Havering. The test tube holders are fundamental to the smooth running of testing,
and with the laser cutting facilities and equipment available to students at Elutec Academy, the students were more than keen to get to work and support the local community. Elutec Academy Year 12 students Clark Middleton, Edward McKee and
Fane Martin, along with others, were keen to contribute their time and effort to support the cause and put their skills to good use in the engineering workshop. The large workshop facilities at Elutec allowed the students to work safely. The students chose to manufacture the test tube holders using acrylic, as a
non-porous material, to enable the holders to be cleaned at the required safe level and also branded them with the Elutec name. Head of Faculty for Engineering, Claire Bannister said: “I am really pleased
that we can again support the local community in manufacturing and supplying these test tube holders, after making and supplying face visors in the first lockdown”. Councillor Damian White, Leader of Havering Council, said: “We are really
grateful to Claire and the students at Elutec, who stepped in when we were at a loss about where to go to have these bespoke test tube holders made. The students at Elutec have done an amazing job of creating and branding the holder and will make the role of the COVID workers much easier to do.”
uwww.elutec.co.uk
Thousands of schoolchildren are walking for road safety this June, with Brake’s Kids Walk 2021
Road safety charity Brake has announced the return of its road safety campaign Brake’s Kids Walk. On Wednesday 16 June 2021, thousands of schoolchildren across the UK will take part in a short, supervised walk to promote important road safety messages. Children will walk in pairs in crocodile formation within their community, to emphasise the importance of being able to walk without fear or threat from traffic or pollution. Children of all ages are at risk of being hurt or killed when walking near roads. On average, six
children are killed or seriously injured on roads in Britain every day – that’s equivalent to a whole classroom of children every week. By signing up to Brake’s Kids Walk, schools and educators can access a FREE action pack
featuring lesson plans, assemblies, activities, and posters, all brightly illustrated and featuring the popular Shaun the Sheep characters by Aardman. As well as teaching children vital road safety skills, Brake’s Kids Walk raises awareness among parents and other adults of the need to protect children on our roads. Posters and demonstration materials highlight what children need to be able to walk safely in their communities: they need footpaths, cycle paths, safe places to cross, and slow and clean traffic. Brake, the road safety charity, has been running walking events for schoolchildren at a national level for more than 15 years.
The charity is also behind Road Safety Week – the UK’s biggest road safety campaign each November. All schools and education communities are invited to sign up to Brake’s Kids Walk 2021
atuwww.brake.org.uk/kidswalk
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www.education-today.co.uk April 2021
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