Matthew Carroll

Carroll, M., & Constantinou, F. (2022). Learning loss in the Covid-19 pandemic: teachers’ views on the nature and extent of loss. Research Matters: A Cambridge University Press & Assessment publication, 34, 6–25.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to education around the world. As education systems gradually return to normal, there is a push to understand effects of the disruption. A major impact on students is “learning loss”, in which attainment and progress may have fallen behind expected levels. Various efforts have been made to quantify learning loss, but to better understand it, further work, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, is required.

Here, we sought to record teachers’ views on how far behind (or ahead) their students were compared to a “typical” year, and to gather their opinions about what had been lost (or gained). To do this, we surveyed teachers in schools that work with Cambridge CEM. We received over 400 responses, spread across 38 countries and 198 schools, thus giving a broad sample of experiences.

A majority of respondents felt their students were behind expectations. 1–2 months behind was the most common estimate, but some respondents made much larger estimates of loss, while a sizeable minority thought that their students were on track or even ahead of expectations. Descriptions of the areas of loss indicated that fundamental literacy and numeracy skills had been affected, as had practical skills and general study skills. Responses also described variable impacts, both within and between groups of students. Effects of Covid-related disruption on education are ongoing and may be felt for some time still to come. By exploring the nature and extent of learning loss in students, it is hoped that it will be possible to better understand, and hopefully mitigate, these longer-term impacts.

• Foreword Tim Oates
• Editorial Tom Bramley
• Learning loss in the Covid-19 pandemic: teachers’ views on the nature and extent of loss Matthew Carroll, Filio Constantinou
• Which assessment is harder? Some limits of statistical linking Tom Benton, Joanna Williamson
• Progress in the first year at school Chris Jellis
• What are "recovery curricula" and what do they include? A literature review Martin Johnson
• What's in a name? Are surnames derived from trades and occupations associated with lower GCSE scores? Joanna Williamson, Tom Bramley
• Research News Lisa Bowett

Williamson, J., Suto, I., Little, J., Jellis, C., & Carroll, M. (2021) Learning during lockdown: How socially interactive were secondary school students in England? Research Matters: A Cambridge University Press & Assessment publication, 32, 22-44.

For countless students, national lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 caused serious upheaval in their education. Across England, decisions to close schools engendered much anxiety, as did Government expectations that most students continued their schooling from home. In addition to lost opportunities for learning and even loss of learning, students’ wellbeing was a significant concern for parents, teachers, and other stakeholders.

Students’ social interactions with their teachers, each other, family and friends are critical to both pedagogy and wellbeing. We report on a survey of over 600 secondary school students’ perceptions of the extent and nature of such interactions during England’s national lockdown in early 2021. We found that the activity types that occurred both within and outside of lockdown schooling changed markedly compared with during pre-pandemic schooling. Students reported spending less time interacting with their teachers and peers though whole class work, small group work, and pair work, and more time working independently. Over half of the students surveyed perceived working independently to be helpful or really helpful, apparently valuing the autonomy they had gained. Patterns of activity types for students who learned mostly or entirely at home were strikingly like those of students who continued to attend school during lockdown; the nature of face-to-face schooling appeared to have changed temporarily in the direction of remote schooling.

• Foreword Tim Oates
• Editorial Tom Bramley
• Learning during lockdown: How socially interactive were secondary school students in England? Joanna Williamson, Irenka Suto, John Little, Chris Jellis, Matthew Carroll
• How well do we understand wellbeing? Teachers’ experiences in an extraordinary educational era Chris Jellis, Joanna Williamson, Irenka Suto
• What do we mean by question paper error? An analysis of criteria and working definitions Nicky Rushton, Sylvia Vitello, Irenka Suto
• Item response theory, computer adaptive testing and the risk of self-deception Tom Benton
• Research News Anouk Peigne

Williamson, J. and Carroll, M. (2018). Examining the use of technical qualifications within Key Stage 5 programmes of study. Presented at the 5th International Conference on Employer Engagement in Education and Training, London, UK, 5-6 July 2018.

The conference proceedings can be viewed here.