Synopsis

The return to school has begun, yet not all students are present. The lingering effects of Covid lockdowns have created a pattern of persistent absence for some, and schools face mounting pressure to re-engage these students. For Panorama, the BBC’s Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys has spent three months documenting the experiences of pupils grappling with the return to classroom life, questioning whether stricter approaches – including financial penalties for parents – can prove effective.