Addressing the post-pandemic attainment gap is among teachers’ key concerns in the new school term, according to a survey by Renaissance.
A poll for the online learning provider found that one in five heads and teachers expected it to be their biggest challenge, with 40% of teachers feeling unprepared to measure the differences in attainment caused by Covid-19.
Almost half of the survey’s respondents said they felt unprepared to act on attainment differences.
More than three-quarters (76%) of teachers felt that literacy learning loss would be the hardest gap to close, while maths skills were a concern for 20%.
A more positive corollary of the pandemic was found in technology, with three-quarters of teachers declaring an improved confidence in using edtech.
Another area of worry for many teaching staff ahead of the new school year was the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on colleagues and pupils, with 20% saying it was a key concern.
Renaissance’s survey results are drawn from a relatively small pool of people working in education. Of the 273 respondents, 64% were teachers and headteachers, while the remaining 36% consisted of senior leadership members and administrative staff.
Last month, an altogether larger poll of more than 4,000 teachers by the Sutton Trust found that 72% of teachers expected the attainment gap between poorer pupils and their classmates to widen at their school.
