The impact of COVID-19 on education: a summary of evidence on the early impacts of lockdown

This report digests some of the research and perspectives so far about the impact of [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 on education and the youth labour market. A huge amount has happened in a very short space of time as the education system has responded to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In the further education sector, the diversity of provision posed a particular challenge. Like colleagues in schools, colleges moved provision and assessment online wherever possible, but that presented particular challenges in the case of vocational and technical education. With the wider...  [+] Show more

This report digests some of the research and perspectives so far about the impact of [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 on education and the youth labour market. A huge amount has happened in a very short space of time as the education system has responded to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In the further education sector, the diversity of provision posed a particular challenge. Like colleagues in schools, colleges moved provision and assessment online wherever possible, but that presented particular challenges in the case of vocational and technical education. With the wider changes in the labour market, many apprentices have been furloughed or lost their jobs, with future apprenticeship starts very uncertain as businesses manage the ongoing risk of the crisis. Independent training providers in particular have faced enormous financial challenges. For higher education, students and staff were equally forced to make a rapid shift to online learning, which looks set to remain a mainstay in the next academic year. Many students have lost the part time work that they rely on to support their studies and all who are graduating are facing a very challenging entry to the labour market, while universities themselves raise significant fears over their future financial stability.

The wider impact of the crisis on disadvantaged groups has exacerbated existing divides. As schools and colleges closed, vulnerable children were left without a physical safe haven, while disadvantaged families did not have access to the equipment or connectivity to take full advantage of online and digital learning. For the youth labour market, it is very clear that we have entered a period of severe challenge for the economy, which is likely to lead to the deepest recession on record. Based on evidence from previous recessions, the impact is likely to be felt disproportionately by young people - a third of 18-24 year olds were already furloughed or had lost their main job during the first months of lockdown.

Edited excerpts from publication.