Coronavirus pandemic risks creating ‘lost generation of children’, warns former Ofsted chief

‘What is absolutely clear is that a lot of youngsters have lost a considerable amount of time while this lockdown has taken place.’ By Kate Ng

Notices advising staff and pupils to maintain 2m of separation to create an environment safe from Coronavirus are displayed at Slaithwaite C of E Junior and Infant School in Slaithwaite, near Huddersfield (AFP)

Pupils may have to face cancelling their summer holidays to make up for lost time during the coronavirus lockdown, or Britain faces a “lost generation of children”, a former Ofsted chief has warned.

Sir Michael Wilshaw said in an interview with Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that some children “have regressed” in their studies while in lockdown.

“That’s a great shame because we want every year group to have the same opportunities as others,” he said, adding that schools and head teachers are responsible for implementing recovery programmes, which may mean cancelling holidays.