Covid-19, mental health and cyber bullying listed as top short-term risks for schools – Ecclesiastical

The top short-term risks for schools and sixth forms over the next year are Covid-19 (62%), mental health (56%) and cyber bullying (47%), according to new research by insurer Ecclesiastical.

Its Education Risk Barometer 2021, which surveyed 500 UK professionals in schools and sixth forms between 1 and 19 October 2021, also identified the bullying of pupils (46%) as a risk for schools and sixth forms in the upcoming 12 months.

The insurer is now encouraging brokers to share the Education Risk Barometer 2021 results with relevant clients, to ensure they are aware of these risks.

Faith Kitchen, Ecclesiastical Insurance’s customer segment director, said: “It’s no surprise to see that managing the impact of Covid is the biggest challenge facing schools as they continue to navigate the pandemic and its consequences.

“The pandemic has created new risks for schools and [has] seriously exacerbated existing challenges in the sector.

”We hope this report will help brokers encourage their education clients to think about the risks they face and how best to protect their organisations for the future.”

Last year’s Education Risk Barometer report, published in February 2020, found that cyber insurance was an “important consideration” for schools. 

Brokers’ key role

Ecclesiastical’s 2021 report covers the key risks, challenges and opportunities facing schools. This includes:

• Trust in the education system.
• The mental health and wellbeing of students.
• The mental health and wellbeing of teachers.
• Safeguarding.
• Looking into the future.
• Alternative education.
• Protecting the environment.

The research also looked at medium-term concerns for the education sector, effective within the next one to three years. Risks that were highlighted here include falling behind with technological changes (40%), recruitment and retention of teachers (39%) and reducing schools’ environmental impact (39%).

Meanwhile, the top three long-term considerations for education clients - concerning the next three to five years - were the cost of maintaining the school building (27%), financial pressure (24%) and reducing schools’ environmental impact (24%).

Kitchen added: “As one of the leading insurers of schools in the UK, Ecclesiastical is passionate about supporting the education sector.

“Brokers play an important role in helping education clients understand the risks they are facing and in ensuring they have the right cover in place.”