Study reveals one in five children are not doing ANY school work in lockdown

A NEW study has revealed that one in five children are not doing any schoolwork at home or only work for less than an hour each day.

By Melanie Kaidan, Lifestyle Reporter

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It comes after members of the public were left outraged as ministers revealed millions of teens will only have one meeting with their teacher in six months. The research, led by UCL, showed that 2.3 million children in the UK are hardly studying during the coronavirus lockdown.

On average, children spend 2.5 hours a day doing schoolwork - around half of what was initially believed.

Schools being closed is “tragically” creating academic differences as more deprived children and those in the North East are losing out most, researchers said.

The research revealed that it is a “threat” to the educations and academic prospects of an entire generation of children.

Tory MP Robert Halfon, boss of the education select committee, said: “We have got to get our children learning again.

Study reveals one in five children are not doing ANY school work in lockdown

Study reveals one in five children are not doing ANY school work in lockdown (Image: Getty)

“These children, particularly the younger ones, are missing out on the most important parts of their lives and we are damaging their life chances in a huge way.

“We need to get these kids back on the educational ladder of opportunity.”

Professor Francis Green, the paper’s lead researcher, said the current situation paints a “gloomy picture of lost schooling”.

He said: “Everyone is losing out in this generation, some much more than others.

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The research observed 4,559 children and found substantial class and regional differences

The research observed 4,559 children and found substantial class and regional differences (Image: Getty)

“Better home schoolwork provision, and better still an early safe return to school for as many as possible, should now become a top priority for government.”

The research observed 4,559 children and found substantial class and regional differences in how much children are studying during the pandemic.

Children from London, the South and the East of England and in Northern Ireland spend the most time studying, and children in the North and Wales the least.

The research also revealed that children on free school meals are missing out the most.

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The vital importance of social distancing

The vital importance of social distancing (Image: Express)

Only 15 percent of children on free school meals are doing four activities of offline homework a day, compared to 21 percent of children who do not require free meals.

One in five free school meal students do not have access to a computer at home, which causes “considerable harm” to their academic progress during lockdown.

Just 7 percent of other students do not have a computer.

Private school pupils are missing out the least, as 31 percent do four or more lessons a day, contrasted with only 6 percent of state school students.

Yesterday it was announced that if primary schools can allow more children to return to the classrooms they should do so, but classes should not exceed 15 pupils.

Private school pupils are missing out the least, as 31 percent do four or more lessons a day

Private school pupils are missing out the least, as 31 percent do four or more lessons a day (Image: Getty)

Secondary schools are open now for Years 10 and 12 students, with all other groups having to study from home.

Meanwhile, secondary school students can only have one in-person meeting “where possible” before they close for summer.

The Department for Education guidance states: “This time can be used to check-in on pupils, and ensure they are supported before a return to school from September or moving into employment or the next stage of education.”

Lee Elliott Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said: “We should strive to ensure pupils benefit from at least some face-to-face time once a week, for their wellbeing as much as their academic studies.

“The fear will be that they suffer lengthy learning loss which can cause lifetime damage.”

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