Discover what the future of education has in store with Bett 2022, the global event for the EdTech community
Despite the considerable efforts of teachers and school leaders, it is no secret that the pandemic - and the lockdowns enforced to contain it - has disrupted pupils’ learning across all phases of education. Unsurprisingly, children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are those who have paid the highest price. This has been due to many reasons, such as the lack of adequate technological equipment or an unreliable internet connection - two elements that are indispensable when taking advantage of online learning.
A recent survey of 4,690 teachers conducted by Teacher Tapp for Bett UK has revealed the extent of the learning gap that the pandemic has generated. Overall, state school teachers were far more likely to offer a gloomy forecast of how long it would take pupils to catch up compared to their counterparts in private schools.
Just 3% of teachers in state schools did not think there was a learning gap created by Covid-19 compared to 19% of private school teachers who thought there was no gap.
Some 36% of primary teachers in state schools thought the learning gap would take 18 months or more to close, while 32% of secondary state school teachers thought the same.
When analysed by subject, language teachers and Key Stage 2 primary teachers were the most pessimistic, with 34% warning it would take pupils more than 18 months to get back on track.
The outcomes of the survey prove that much needs to be done to help pupils recover from disruption to their learning. This theme will be central to Bett 2022, taking place on 23-25 March at the ExCeL London. The event, a landmark for the EdTech community worldwide, will gather prominent education professionals, leaders and EdTech providers who, in a series of enlightening and thought-provoking sessions, will discuss how to create the future of education, the overarching theme of the show.
Bett 2022 will host over 300 inspiring speakers, including former UK Minister for schools, digital and employment, Lord Jim Knight, Sarah Brown, best-selling author and Executive Chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education, Darcey Bussell, the famous ballet dancer and advocate of mental wellbeing at school, and Sally Phillips, the well-known comic actress and writer who will be drawing on her own experiences of SEND and inclusion in education.
Some of the sessions such as ‘Closing the gap for student wellbeing’ and ‘Strategically closing the digital divide’, will specifically address the issue of what the education community can and should do to enable pupils, especially the underprivileged ones, to access a better education. The survey results mentioned above have made clear that this must be a key priority for the future of the education sector.
For more information on our inspiring sessions and speakers, check out the Bett 2022 agenda. Join the education community on 23-25 March 2022 at the ExCeL London.
