Teachers and pupils have returned to Catholic schools after a series of lockdowns and restrictions, though some protective measures still remain in operation and there is careful monitoring of the evolving situation.
This paper will reflect on the impact of Covid-19 on the most vulnerable children and young people in Catholic schools. This will include children who have suffered from the highly publicised Food poverty and digital poverty but will also focus on less well publicised groups such as young carers and those who live in rural areas.
The paper will provide an overview of the effects of these forms of poverty, some of the practical ways that have been adopted to address them, and discuss the ways forward in the post-Covid context.
About the speaker
Professor Stephen McKinney is the leader of Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith, a Research and Teaching Group in the School of Education, University of Glasgow. He is also a visiting Professor of Catholic Education at Newman University, Birmingham. He has researched and published widely on Catholic education, child poverty and Catholic schools and social justice. He is a member of the steering group of the Network of Researchers in Catholic Education.