• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
Friday, January 15, 2021
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    • All
    • The Raven
    Man’s body found in Ullswater area

    Police officer, 59, killed in A66 crash

    First COVID-19 death in four days recorded at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

    Three new coronavirus deaths at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

    A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products recycles Christmas trees in aid of charity

    A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products recycles Christmas trees in aid of charity

    Plans for rapid COVID-19 testing to be rolled out at secondary schools

    317 more coronavirus cases diagnosed in Cumbria

    Businesses risk missing out on COVID-19 grants

    Businesses risk missing out on COVID-19 grants

    Vehicle fire on M6 near Penrith junction 40

    M6 traffic at standstill due to collision

    Your photos: Snow in Cumbria

    Drivers warned to take care as ice grips Cumbria

    £800,000 cost of rural crime

    Man dies after A66 road collision

    Cranstons champions Eden’s produce with lockdown friendly click + collect service

    Cranstons champions Eden’s produce with lockdown friendly click + collect service

  • Sport
    Penrith AFC bosses praise Grant Davidson as he clocks up more than 500 games

    Penrith AFC bosses praise Grant Davidson as he clocks up more than 500 games

    Carlisle United at top of table is exciting says Gavin Skelton – but vital for team to focus

    Carlisle United at top of table is exciting says Gavin Skelton – but vital for team to focus

    Penrith Angling Association wins £7,500 for beck pollution incident

    Fishing banned during lockdown

    Lakeland Rowing Club’s championship medals haul

    Lakeland Rowing Club’s championship medals haul

    Uncertainty looms as Penrith Rugby Club issues rallying cry

    Penrith’s festive fixtures kicked in touch by coronavirus

    Penrith AFC lose out on COVID Cup win

    Penrith AFC lose out on COVID Cup win

    Workington Reds win derby as Penrith AFC wait for league season ruling

    Workington Reds win derby as Penrith AFC wait for league season ruling

    Mark Donovan takes well earned break after Grand Tour debut

    Mark Donovan takes well earned break after Grand Tour debut

    Penrith AFC games cancelled for another two weeks

    Penrith AFC games cancelled for another two weeks

  • Farming
    • All
    • Red Shepherdess
    CLA director Dorothy Fairburn to retire

    CLA director Dorothy Fairburn to retire

    Optimism and record numbers at Kirkby Stephen mart

    Optimism and record numbers at Kirkby Stephen mart

    Veganuary? You’d be better going back to basics….

    Veganuary? You’d be better going back to basics….

    Penrith Angling Association wins £7,500 for beck pollution incident

    Local fishing allowed under lockdown rules

    Penrith Angling Association wins £7,500 for beck pollution incident

    Fishing banned during lockdown

    ‘Drop and go’ introduced at Cumbria’s livestock marts

    ‘Drop and go’ introduced at Cumbria’s livestock marts

    ‘Huge relief’ for farmers as trade deal is agreed

    ‘Huge relief’ for farmers as trade deal is agreed

    Hope for Newton Rigg despite closure confirmation

    Penrith MP pledges to continue fight to save Newton Rigg

    £800,000 cost of rural crime

    Spate of diesel thefts in rural areas prompts warning

  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Recruitment
  • Photosales
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    • All
    • The Raven
    Man’s body found in Ullswater area

    Police officer, 59, killed in A66 crash

    First COVID-19 death in four days recorded at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

    Three new coronavirus deaths at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

    A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products recycles Christmas trees in aid of charity

    A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products recycles Christmas trees in aid of charity

    Plans for rapid COVID-19 testing to be rolled out at secondary schools

    317 more coronavirus cases diagnosed in Cumbria

    Businesses risk missing out on COVID-19 grants

    Businesses risk missing out on COVID-19 grants

    Vehicle fire on M6 near Penrith junction 40

    M6 traffic at standstill due to collision

    Your photos: Snow in Cumbria

    Drivers warned to take care as ice grips Cumbria

    £800,000 cost of rural crime

    Man dies after A66 road collision

    Cranstons champions Eden’s produce with lockdown friendly click + collect service

    Cranstons champions Eden’s produce with lockdown friendly click + collect service

  • Sport
    Penrith AFC bosses praise Grant Davidson as he clocks up more than 500 games

    Penrith AFC bosses praise Grant Davidson as he clocks up more than 500 games

    Carlisle United at top of table is exciting says Gavin Skelton – but vital for team to focus

    Carlisle United at top of table is exciting says Gavin Skelton – but vital for team to focus

    Penrith Angling Association wins £7,500 for beck pollution incident

    Fishing banned during lockdown

    Lakeland Rowing Club’s championship medals haul

    Lakeland Rowing Club’s championship medals haul

    Uncertainty looms as Penrith Rugby Club issues rallying cry

    Penrith’s festive fixtures kicked in touch by coronavirus

    Penrith AFC lose out on COVID Cup win

    Penrith AFC lose out on COVID Cup win

    Workington Reds win derby as Penrith AFC wait for league season ruling

    Workington Reds win derby as Penrith AFC wait for league season ruling

    Mark Donovan takes well earned break after Grand Tour debut

    Mark Donovan takes well earned break after Grand Tour debut

    Penrith AFC games cancelled for another two weeks

    Penrith AFC games cancelled for another two weeks

  • Farming
    • All
    • Red Shepherdess
    CLA director Dorothy Fairburn to retire

    CLA director Dorothy Fairburn to retire

    Optimism and record numbers at Kirkby Stephen mart

    Optimism and record numbers at Kirkby Stephen mart

    Veganuary? You’d be better going back to basics….

    Veganuary? You’d be better going back to basics….

    Penrith Angling Association wins £7,500 for beck pollution incident

    Local fishing allowed under lockdown rules

    Penrith Angling Association wins £7,500 for beck pollution incident

    Fishing banned during lockdown

    ‘Drop and go’ introduced at Cumbria’s livestock marts

    ‘Drop and go’ introduced at Cumbria’s livestock marts

    ‘Huge relief’ for farmers as trade deal is agreed

    ‘Huge relief’ for farmers as trade deal is agreed

    Hope for Newton Rigg despite closure confirmation

    Penrith MP pledges to continue fight to save Newton Rigg

    £800,000 cost of rural crime

    Spate of diesel thefts in rural areas prompts warning

  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Recruitment
  • Photosales
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home News

More than 1,200 Cumbria secondary school pupils absent due to coronavirus

by CWH
17 December 2020
in News, Featured
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Picture: PA

More than 1,200 secondary school pupils were absent in Cumbria on just one day last week because of coronavirus, estimates suggest.

The Education Policy Institute said there were “huge disparities” in attendance rates across English local authorities, and that the Government had failed to address the issue.

Department for Education figures released for the first time estimate up to 1,292 pupils in state secondary schools in Cumbria were absent on December 10 – giving an attendance rate of 87 per cent.

Of these, 81 were absent with either a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19.

Concerned that some children were counted in multiple categories, the DfE estimates the number of pupils absent because they were forced to self-isolate was between 1,071 and 1,211.

Between the start of September and last week, Cumbria has had an average weekly attendance rate of 89 per cent in secondary schools – one of the highest in England.

Rates for the school year so far have varied widely across England, with Rutland, West Sussex and York having average attendances of 90 per cent, and Rochdale just 70 per cent.

The National Education Union said it is not fair that all these pupils would sit exams under the same conditions next year.

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the NEU, said the attendance figures, which have been “hidden from the public for so long”, reveal the impact of the pandemic on schooling.

He said that Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who threatened several councils with legal action if they closed schools early, and the Government have failed to keep schools safe.

Mr Courtney added: “The interests of an individual child are of course to be in school, but you have to view this with a wider canvas than that – which Gavin Williamson has been failing to do in his recourse to legal threats.

“Schools are deeply concerned that community spread is being generated by schools, which are now widely accepted to be major centres of transmission, particularly in secondaries.”

The Education Policy Institute said the data shows “huge disparities” in the amount of face-to-face learning taking place in different areas, because of the varying attendance rates.

Natalie Perera, chief executive of the EPI, said: “We’ve seen policies aimed at all pupils across-the-board to help them catch up with their learning this year, but so far the Government has not dealt with the fact that some pupils will have lost much more learning than others.

“In the immediate term, because they have been hit hardest by the disruption to education, it is clear that we need to see additional resources targeted at the most disadvantaged pupils.”

There were up to 629 primary school children absent in Cumbria on December 10 because of coronavirus – with 67 off due to a confirmed or suspected case of the disease.

A further 21 students were missing from special schools in the area on the day.

However, the figures had limited responses from special schools. The DfE said keeping schools open was a national priority, with every secondary school and college in England to have access to rapid coronavirus testing from January.

Mr Williamson said: “I know some areas of the country have faced more significant challenges and attendance has been impacted by the high rate of infection in the community at that time.

“Where children are asked to self-isolate they should receive remote education in line with what they would receive in school so they do not fall behind.”

The Government also announced that while exam-year students will return to classrooms as normal in January, the majority of secondary school pupils will start the term online.

Previous Post

Cumbrian rush hour and other photos

Next Post

Code of conduct complaints made against members of Alston Moor Parish Council

No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

This week in history – January 9

From our archives – January

15 January 2021
A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products recycles Christmas trees in aid of charity

A.W. Jenkinson Forest Products recycles Christmas trees in aid of charity

15 January 2021
First COVID-19 death in four days recorded at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

Three new coronavirus deaths at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust

15 January 2021
Man’s body found in Ullswater area

Police officer, 59, killed in A66 crash

15 January 2021
Plans for rapid COVID-19 testing to be rolled out at secondary schools

317 more coronavirus cases diagnosed in Cumbria

15 January 2021
Businesses risk missing out on COVID-19 grants

Businesses risk missing out on COVID-19 grants

15 January 2021
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo
14 King Street
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7AH

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England no: 33217
VAT registration number: 256271948

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view
  • The Raven

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Recruitment
  • Photosales
  • Digital edition
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2020

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Sport
  • Farm and Countryside
    • Red Shepherdess
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Recruitment
  • The Raven
  • more
    • Photo sales
    • Subscribe
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald