Pupils will remember the pastoral support they received from teachers during the Covid pandemic far more than any academic help, the head of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) has suggested, the TES reports.
Andreas Schleicher said that in 10 years’ time, pastoral support might be the “one thing” they remember from this era of educational disruption.
He told the Foundation for Education Development’s National Education Summit today:
“Learning is never a transactional process.
“It’s always a relational and social phenomenon. Maybe the one thing that students will remember from this pandemic 10 years from now is the teacher who reached out to them when the school was closed, the teacher who understood their dreams and passions, helped them realise their ideas in these difficult times, who helped them understand who they are and who they want to become.
“Compared with that, the world of the curriculum is so small.”
Mr Schleicher’s comments came after a report by ISC Research revealed that parents had become more demanding over pastoral care and health and safety when choosing international schools.
Independent schools within the UK have also spoken out about the need to tend to the mental health and wellbeing of staff and students during difficult times.