Teachers' response to COVID-19 sparks gratitude from parents in Greater London

 

New research reveals nearly nine in ten parents in Greater London have developed a greater appreciation for teachers since coronavirus restrictions began, as more than one in five admit they previously rarely considered the role teachers play in society

Eight in ten parents believe teachers in England have gone “above and beyond” over past two months

Today, in support of national Thank a Teacher Day (Wednesday 20 May), children and their families are joining forces to #ThankATeacher by sharing videos thanking the teachers and school staff who improve their lives

A new survey with parents of primary and secondary school age children, released today and commissioned by the Get Into Teaching campaign in support of national Thank A Teacher Day, reveals the scale of newfound appreciation for teachers up and down the country.

Nearly nine in 10 (86%) parents in Greater London who responded to the survey agree that over the course of the coronavirus restrictions they have developed a greater appreciation for the job teachers do, and eight in ten (80%) agree teachers nationwide have gone “above and beyond” over this period.

Based on their experience supporting home education, nine out of ten parents in Greater London agreed that being a teacher requires a lot of patience (90%), and keeping young people engaged in learning takes a lot of creativity (90%).

The Thank A Teacher campaign, run by The Teaching Awards Trust, is calling on children and their families to join forces today to thank the teachers and school staff who go above and beyond and profoundly impact their lives.

Abigail Welton, a teacher at Engayne Primary School in London said: “It is humbling to hear that so many parents appreciate our efforts. Being a teacher allows you to make a real difference in the world, no more so than during these extraordinary times where school leaders, teachers and staff have pulled together to keep schools open for those who need it the most and find innovative and creative ways to support our pupils.

“At my school we have planned sports activities, dance lessons and art competitions for the children to complete at home. Teachers are making regular calls to their class to check how they are, what they have been up to and if they need help with any of the work. It has been amazing staying in touch with the children and hearing the positive feedback and impact it has.”

Some of the biggest challenges parents in Greater London identify when supporting their child with home learning include:

• 55% find it hard to keep their child motivated to complete work set;
• 49% find it hard to keep their child engaged in the work they are doing;
• 34% find it hard to help their child with work they don’t understand; and
• 32% find it hard to come up with creative ways to make subjects interesting.

 

Nearly nine in ten (89%) parents surveyed in Greater London are grateful to the teachers who positively influence their child, day in day out. Children themselves also seem appreciative, as more than eight in ten (84%) parents say their child is missing their schoolteacher and being in lessons while schools are closed to the majority of pupils.

Steve Munby, Chair of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: "We have always known the incredible lengths that teachers and other school staff go to for their students, and these results show how much parents have grown to appreciate this work.
"This annual campaign is our opportunity to thank the incredible teachers, lecturers and other staff who keep our schools running, who inspire wonder on a daily basis, and who do everything in their power to give our young people the best possible education, whatever the circumstances.”

Minister for School Standards Nick Gibb said:“Teachers, head teachers and support staff have shown outstanding professionalism and commitment during these challenging times.
“They are doing an incredible job in finding innovative ways to continue young people’s education at home, be it through online lessons, set work or motivating phone calls with pupils.
“Now as we prepare for more young people returning to school, and as the country takes careful steps towards recovery, teachers and support staff are playing a vital role in ensuring children continue their education in these unprecedented times.”

Using the hashtags #HowWillYouSayThankYou and #ThankATeacher, pupils and their families are being asked to come up with their own creative messages of thanks to celebrate their teachers and wider school staff, for example by singing songs, reading poems and recording video clips.

An inspirational teacher makes all the difference. Find out how to share your appreciation for a teacher you know by visiting: thankateacher.co.uk

 

 

 

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