Bursar’s Review Spring 2021

7 @the_isba Spring 2021 News Worsening levels of stress, loneliness and anger Preliminary results from the largest worldwide study into the mental and physical impact of COVID-19, reveal that about one in three adults are experiencing worsening levels of stress, loneliness and anger during the pandemic. Researchers at the University of Southampton involved in ‘Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning During Infection Times’ (COH-FIT) have collected data from more than 105,000 people around the world on their mental and physical wellbeing, access to care and coping strategies, during and after the pandemic. The project collects anonymous information on adults and, with parental consent, adolescents and children aged six years or over. Samuele Cortese, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southampton, is leading the UK section of the survey and is appealing for more to take part. Those interested in participating can access the anonymous survey at www.coh-fit.com The findings will be presented nationally and internationally to the scientific community, with the aim of helping to develop targeted interventions for persons at particularly high risk. Dads don’t seem to pull their weight on home schooling A survey of hundreds of parents of primary school-aged children carried out by education resources and lesson plan experts, PlanBee, showed that mothers picked up almost all the home teaching burden during the first school lockdown, with just 11.8 percent of fathers taking the lead. PlanBee’s Oli Ryan, a former primary school teacher, said: “We were amazed to find that there was such a huge gender disparity in terms of who was taking up the teaching role.” Fitting in home schooling with other work and other commitments was the top challenge for parents, with over a third (35.29) per cent citing it. Keeping their children engaged with learning was the second biggest bugbear, at 31.09 percent. Home schooling has had a big impact on parents’ perception of teaching, with nearly one-third (33.6 percent) saying it had altered their attitude. International School of the Year 2021 Hosted by ISC Research, the annual International School Awards recognise international schools for their initiatives supporting inclusion, pupils as future-thinking innovators, digital technology in learning, ethical values education and more. This year, the Awards attracted 264 eligible nominations from international schools in 62 different countries and an independent judging panel of 11 experienced international educators selected the shortlisted schools and winners. The International School of the Year 2020 was awarded to Branksome Hall Asia, South Korea for two exceptional nominations: a pupil-led initiative which resulted in designing and producing security necklaces for girls in vulnerable situations in Nepal, and for a research and mission-led strategic approach to its online learning.