Children experiencing ‘unorthodox’ schooling since pandemic, Ofsted says

Many children are experiencing “unorthodox” schooling methods since the pandemic in England, according to Ofsted’s latest report.

The education watchdog highlighted concerns about an increase in part-time timetables, hybrid learning and growing attendance issues – especially affecting vulnerable students.

In his first annual report as Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver described the current state of education as “fractured and fragmented” and warned that pupil attendance remained a “stubborn and damaging issue”.

He also said there were significant challenges which persisted for schools and the wider sector.

Attendance levels have yet to recover from pre-pandemic norms. Government data shows that nearly 20% of pupils were persistently absent during the 2023/24 autumn and spring terms, nearly double the rate before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sir Martyn linked the rise in absenteeism to shifts in family routines, suggesting parents working from home were able to keep their children off school.

He pointed to increasing instances of “flexi-schooling” – where parents home-school their children for part of the week, contributing to the instability in their learning.

Sir Martyn said approximately 34,000 children are now on part-time timetables – where pupils attend school for only part of the week. The Department for Education has said this should only be a last resort.

He added: “The spread of part-time timetables suggests they are becoming more readily used, which cannot be good.”

Sir Martyn said they should only be used as a short-term measure and in consultation with parents or carers.

Home-schooling has also more than doubled since 2017, with 92,000 children now educated at home.

Sir Martyn said their provision was not Ofsted’s responsibility, and that local authorities and the Department for Education should have oversight of this area.

The report also touched on the education watchdog’s own reforms following public scrutiny and the death of headteacher Ruth Perry, whose school was downgraded from the top “outstanding” grade to the lowest, “inadequate”, after an inspection.

“As we introduce changes, we won’t shy away from calling out unacceptable education or care,” the chief inspector said.

“But we will also highlight and champion great work.”

There are plans to replace single-word school grades with detailed report cards, with consultations on new frameworks due in January.

When asked about the potential for the new system to cause additional pressure on schools and teachers, Sir Martyn said: “It would be an opportunity to showcase their strengths.”

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More than 87,000 teachers have left the profession in the last two years, and schools are struggling to recruit and retain skilled staff.

The report said the high turnover, especially in nurseries, disrupted early development, with children in low-income areas and those with special educational needs and disabilities feeling the impact most acutely.