What today’s challenges look like for academic leaders
09/22/2022
Pupils across the globe suffered a massive disruption to their education during the pandemic. In the UK however, we saw schools adapt at pace and respond effectively to Covid-19 issues and the changing needs of their students. Now, coming out of the pandemic and an environment where risks were being managed day-to-day, schools need to adapt and look further ahead across the shorter to longer term time horizons.
Tilden Watson, Head of Education, at Zurich Municipal, said: “Some of the main challenges for school leaders during the pandemic were students’ academic progress and wellbeing, as well as managing Covid-19 restrictions.”
He adds: “Settings responded by implementing innovative strategies, against a backdrop of uncertainty. Literally overnight, leaders had to reimagine the way students were taught - at an incredibly stressful time.”
Our new research demonstrates the toll Covid-19 related stress has taken on pupils and the people who look after them. Two in five (42%) parents say their child now suffers regular anxiety, a significant jump from less than a third (30%) before the pandemic. While more than one in six parents feel unable to cope with their child’s concerns and worries.
It is children aged 11 that appear to be struggling most with day-to-day stress, but the research finds 13-year-olds have been most impacted by the upheaval of the last two years, with this group experiencing the biggest increase in regular anxiety. 13-year-olds were the 12th most anxious year group in 2020, but have jumped 31 percentage points to 4th most anxious today.
Shorter term risk trends
In the short term there are several risks that the schools will be exposed to, including policy shifts on academisation. Although school numbers naturally fluctuate, settings are experiencing a 19% rise in secondary pupils. The increase is being fuelled by the baby boom of the early 2000s, with growing numbers of pupils moving through the school system.
In the UK, climate change will compound existing pressures on schools by causing more frequent and widespread flooding, strong winds and flash floods. This will increase disruption to educational services and have a negative impact on pupils.
Cyber and data threats can impact the running of the school and its ability to function – for instance, there are serious repercussions in terms of reputation and the law if personal data has not been kept safe or has been hacked.
Impact of the mental health crisis
Watson explains: “Like much of the pre-pandemic universe, academic leaders are dealing with the ‘Great resignation’. Triggered due to the immense pressure placed on teachers and school employees during the Covid-19 crisis – they are also picking up additional responsibilities when having to cover unfilled positions and staff absences.”
Conversely, 90% of teachers are considering resigning because of workload and just one in ten plan to stay in teaching – with most driven out by poor leadership and student behaviour.
There has been a 77% increase in children needing specialist treatment for severe mental health issues, according to a report from the BBC. 409,347 under-18s were referred to the NHS in England for specialist care for issues including self-harm and suicidal thoughts from April to October 2021. Only children and young adults with the most serious mental health problems are being referred today for specialist care. Yet schools are reporting a rise in mental health problems below this high threshold, and are calling for extra support for pupils such as counselling.
The cost of living crisis
Schools and their employees are feeling the effects of the cost of living crisis, with UK inflation currently at 10.1%. The cost of basic school supplies, heating, lighting, food and fuel has - increased significantly. There are services for pupils who rely on school meals, but English caterers may need to cut portion sizes or use cheaper ingredients.
Watson said: “The cost of living crisis means that more children will be impacted by poverty. In addition, financially disadvantaged or low income families are struggling to make ends meet and are often reliant on the free school meal as there sole hot meal for the day – switching to cheaper ingredients or slashing portion sizes will impact the nutritional value of the meal -for those who need it the most.”
Longer term trends
There are several types of risks that schools will be exposed to in the long term, as follows:
Education leaders should be equipped for local authorities creating Academy chains, for example, in West Sussex County Council, Hampshire County Council and South Gloucestershire County Council.
While mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are becoming a greater cause for concern. Other emerging safeguarding trends include:
- Cyber – students spending more time online unsupervised and becoming accustomed to the habit of gambling from gaming. Also increased risks of online abuse and grooming by strangers
- Subculture – groups of students who share similar (negative) views about school and may have previously been labelled ‘bad’
Addressing new risks
To understand how best to handle new risks, leaders should focus on best practice and lessons learnt following their response to the pandemic.
Watson said: “Many academic leaders are already doing a fantastic job at addressing emerging challenges in schools and it’s important such efforts continue to evolve. It’s crucial for school leaders to communicate clearly and ensure decision-making is co-ordinated, in order to carry on providing top-quality learning opportunities for all children and young adults. Programmes and crisis planning does not need to be built from scratch, schools need to manage risks by adopting similar approaches and strategies progressed during the pandemic.”
