£40,000 lost over a lifetime.

[Workingman]

That figure from the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) is what present day pupils will lose due to missing school during the pandemic. Many more than in a normal year are expected to get lower qualifications over the next few years and this will inhibit them throughout their lives.

It is a fair point to make, and the IFS also claims that catch-up schemes such as increasing the pupil premium, extending the school day, summer schools and retaking the year will not make that much difference. The last three risk the burning out of both pupils and teachers - life is more than study, study and more study.

Unfortunately the IFS cure is to throw more money at the problem - more laptops, better broadband, more IT - the same old 'cures' we have had for decades and they have not made much impression. We need something new, but it looks unlikely that we will get it.