Teachers’ trust damaged by government’s handling of pandemic

Teachers and school leaders need urgent support to rebuild the trust between schools, their communities and the government that was “frayed” and in some cases “destroyed” during the government’s “chaotic” handling of the sector during the pandemic, according to a report titled “Capturing the Real Costs of Care in the Classroom” by the University of Sussex. The report calls for a “radical shift” away from a top-down culture of “governance structures” – such as Ofsted – and emphasizes the need for a system that “listens to what teachers know and what they need.” The research, based on evidence collected through audio diaries and interviews, highlights the impact of a lack of consistent support and trust in teachers, as well as external pressures such as unclear government guidance and funding issues. The researchers also say the report adds to evidence that teachers view Ofsted as having an undermining influence because of the additional work it creates for “already overburdened staff,” which can “push teachers to the edge.” Dr Jenny Hewitt told Tes that the research findings should inform any reform of Ofsted planned by the new government to “better reflect the post-pandemic reality schools now operate in.”