VIEWS
BRITISH EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION (BESA)
Reigniting a love of learning: a call to action
A love of learning is fundamental to a thriving education system, equipping students with the skills, confidence, and curiosity to navigate an ever- changing world. However, recent trends indicate growing challenges - falling attendance, rising mental
health concerns, and increasing dissatisfaction among teachers - all of which point to a decline in student engagement. It is clear that more must be done to reignite students’ passion for learning.
Recognising the urgency of this issue, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Education has launched an inquiry into the loss of a love of learning. This inquiry seeks to understand why engagement in education is declining and what practical steps can be taken to reverse the trend. The APPG is inviting students, parents, educators, and industry stakeholders to submit evidence, ensuring a broad and informed discussion. BESA is proud to support this important work. Alongside the Secretariat of the APPG, BESA is working closely with policymakers, educators, and experts to explore how the education sector can create more engaging and inspiring learning environments. Why a love of learning matters
Education is about more than achieving qualifications - it helps young people develop curiosity, creativity, and resilience. When students are genuinely engaged in their learning, they are more likely to excel academically, think critically, and develop the confidence to tackle new challenges. Beyond academic success, education plays a fundamental role in shaping well-being. Students who enjoy learning are more likely to experience a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment. In contrast, disengagement can lead to anxiety, low self-esteem, and a lack of motivation. Understanding the challenges
Despite the clear benefits of an engaged and motivated student body, there are growing concerns about a decline in the love of learning. The OECD’s PISA 2022 report found that life satisfaction among 15-year-olds in England is below the OECD average and among the lowest in Europe. Schools are also struggling with rising absenteeism - 19.2% of pupils were persistently absent in 2024, significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Behaviour challenges in schools have increased, with research from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change identifying a strong link between classroom behaviour and a young person’s aspirations for further study. Meanwhile, reading for pleasure - often a strong indicator of lifelong learning - has dropped to its lowest levels in 20 years, according to the National Literacy Trust.
Teachers, too, are facing increasing challenges. Research by NASUWT has found that over half of teachers have seriously considered leaving their jobs due to student behaviour issues, with morale and enthusiasm for teaching on the decline. These concerns highlight the need for urgent action to support both students and educators in fostering a love of learning. To explore these issues further, the APPG for Education’s inquiry is structured around four key themes: • The current landscape of engagement in education • Curriculum design and its impact on student engagement • Assessment practices and their role in learning motivation • Supporting teachers in fostering a love of learning The role of policy and community
The APPG for Education’s inquiry is an important step in bringing these discussions to the forefront. By gathering insights from students, parents, teachers, and education experts, policymakers can develop strategies that truly address the root causes of disengagement.
The call for evidence is open until 22nd April 2025, and all interested stakeholders are encouraged to contribute. Select contributors will also be invited to participate in oral evidence sessions in May 2025. By rethinking how we engage students, supporting their curiosity, and making learning more relevant and empowering, we can create an education system that not only imparts knowledge but also inspires young people to explore, discover, and grow.
April 2025 BBC TEACH
(Almost) Feels like summer
BBC Teach is serving up a refreshing selection of new resources covering special days and key moments in history. Executive Producer Kate Lennon tells us more.
Earth Day
Mark Tuesday 22 April in your calendar for an Earth Day 2025 Live Lesson from the Eden Project. Presenters, Naomi Wilkinson and Lizzie Daly, will be taking pupils on a trip inside its Rainforest Biome. Children will learn about the water cycle and its vital role in sustaining life on our planet. They will solve riddles as they are challenged to put the different stages of the cycle in order whilst learning about the endless movement of this precious resource. William Shakespeare
If you‘re celebrating the bard’s birthday on 23 April, we have gathered all our primary and secondary resources under one umbrella. For primary school pupils, our collection includes animated versions of his biggest plays. There are also teacher notes, transcripts and print-outs to support follow-up activities.
For secondary school students, there are short videos featuring key scenes explored through performance by actors and directors at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
To get KS2 children excited about Shakespeare, you can access past Live Lessons. They explore Shakespeare’s life, his language and characters as well as his use of the shared sonnet, iambic pentameter and antithesis. Jane Austen
2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. To celebrate her contribution to storytelling, we have created a secondary assembly. Three poets/spoken word performers each perform short pieces inspired by Austen and her works. We have included everything you need to get students thinking about the issues surrounding great writers such as why did Austen publish her works anonymously. Perhaps you could then bring this into the modern era and think about why it might sometimes be appropriate to post anonymously online, looking into some of the current pros and cons of doing so? Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
This year, 8 May will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. We have created a new assembly for secondary schools that gets students thinking about what life was like in the years immediately after World War Two. This can lead to opportunities to ask students about their family members’ memories of the same time, as well as considering the historical significance of key events and dates.
Historian Shalina Patel interviews social media superstars, Norma and her granddaughter, Jess. The pair document their time together on social media and have amassed over 3 million followers. Norma shares her memories of the end of the War and post-war Britain. The resource includes an assembly framework, discussion points and links to related resources.
BBC Moodboosters
On Friday 9 May, we’re teaming up with BBC Children in Need to broadcast a special Moodboosters Live Lesson. This is great timing for Year 6 especially, as presenters, Rhys Stephenson and Evie Pickerill, will be sharing tips and techniques for dealing with our worries, building self-belief and supporting pupils’ mental health during exams and other challenging times. And everyone’s favourite teddy, Pudsey Bear, will be making a very special appearance. And if you head over to the BBC Teach website, you’ll find a link to all the videos featured in the BBC Moodboosters Live Lesson. You can also access the full collection of resources developed to inspire children to get moving for mental health and wellbeing.
All our Live Lessons are available to watch at 11am on the BBC Teach website and CBBC channel. They can be viewed on-demand once the broadcast ends on BBC Teach and BBC iPlayer. Every lesson is accompanied by a teaching guide and activity sheets. To access the BBC Teach collection of resources, visit
www.bbc.co.uk/teach
www.education-today.co.uk 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
