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Part 3. COVID Impact Themes, harms identified, and mitigations
The fundamental Sector characteristics during COVID identified in previous academic
research (e.g. Orr, 2020, Hodgson and Spours, 2019) were confirmed by data-base and
internet searches together with key interviews. These led to the following over-arching
themes of COVID Impact used to frame the findings.
Theme 1. Vocational disruption for young people, economic participation, and
apprenticeships.
Theme 2. The mental health and wellbeing of young people.
Theme 3. Changes to modes of learning, assessment, and qualifications.
Theme 4. Inequalities, disadvantaged young people, and NEETs.
Theme 5. Problematical transitions and access to higher education and post-16 systems.
Theme 6. A responsive but 'stressed' FE Sector.
Harms
This report considers both harms and mitigations from a starting point of relevant harms
already identified by the DfE, these were:
Short Term Harms
• Mental Health
• Well-Being & Development
• Physical Health
• Nutrition
• Misuse of Substances
• Domestic Violence
• Support Service Access
• Indirect Groups at Risk (e.g., those with extended caring responsibilities)
• Vulnerable children and SEND children
• Learning loss / Educational Knock-on Effect
• Immediate Earning Capacity Changes
Long Term Harms
• Mental Health
• Well-Being & Development
• Physical Health
• Nutrition
• Misuse of Substances
• Domestic Violence
• Support Service Access
• Indirect Groups at Risk (e.g., those with extended caring responsibilities
• Vulnerable children and SEND children
• Learning loss / Educational Knock-on Effect