The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted schooling and the lives of students on an unprecedented scale. Given far more challenging conditions arising from the pandemic, both elsewhere in Australia and globally, we argue that attending to student well-being is as important as ensuring academic achievement and must be a key focus of policy makers and education systems moving forward. This evidence suggests that even a comparatively short period of school closure can drive troubling changes in students’ well-being and behaviour following their return to school. The interviews highlighted negative consequences for many students including increased stress and anxiety and decreased engagement. This study draws on phone interviews with 12 teachers and 6 school leaders from 13 government schools in New South Wales, Australia, to provide insight into how students fared on their return to school after the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020. Efforts to contain the COVID-19 virus resulted in various stay-at-home orders and school closures around the globe, causing unprecedented disruption to the lives of children and generating grave concern for their well-being.
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