The workforce crisis in schools is “compounding” barriers to education recovery, with children “bearing the brunt” of these issues, Ofsted has warned.
The watchdog’s annual report for 2021-22 warned of recruitment “frustrations” in schools, amid shortages of teaching assistants and Covid-related staff absences.
Staff are also now dealing with an energy crisis and cost of living pressures, making “life harder” and “testing the resilience” of schools. The watchdog said issues with the recruitment and retention of staff must be “urgently addressed”.
Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief inspector, said while “careful thought” had been given to lost learning, achievement gaps are wider than before the pandemic, with recovery “far from complete”.
