North East schools are far from "back to normal" with many still facing major operational challenges due to Covid absences.
Schools North East, which represents more than 1,150 schools in the region, says many have been in crisis management mode and feel they never really "got going" after the Christmas holidays.
Covid -related absences are having an impact on the education of children and affecting all staff, causing extra workload for those remaining.
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In January, the group carried out a survey of its members and almost three quarters of schools reported staff levels below 90%. In almost a quarter, staff levels were below 80%.
While the most recent Government data shows staff and student attendance levels stabilising at the beginning of February, this is still well below usual levels for this time of year, with just over nine per cent of teachers absent from schools, the charity says.
A spokesperson for Schools North East said: "Despite the easing of Covid-related restrictions last month and opening up of society, schools continue to face significant operational challenges resulting from the pandemic, and are far from returning to ‘normal’.
"Managing absences, especially among staff, is making it increasingly difficult for schools to adequately identify learning loss and ensure all students are supported with the catch-up they need, impacting on staff workload and wellbeing.
"Throughout January, many schools have been in crisis management mode, with a feeling that they have never really ‘got going’ since returning from the Christmas holidays.
"Staff are being taken away from regular teaching, with the curriculum being continually adapted to meet the changing demands of Covid.
"Schools are not yet back to normal and it is important that the narrative around recovery changes to take this into account."
This week, it was announced that GCSE, AS Level and A-Level students will be issued with advanced information about the topics their exams will cover this summer.
The Department for Education made the decision to assist pupils who have had their school disrupted in the run-up to the exams.
Examiners are also being asked to mark more generously this year to reflect the challenges teens have faced.
However Schools North East says students will still face difficulties.
The spokesperson added: "Schools in our region recognise the importance of exams at GCSEs, but they are worried that with the range of experiences of students, it will be difficult to ensure the system is fair.
"While the adaptations announced will help many students, advanced information has come late into the academic year, increasing anxieties for students and adding workload to staff as they target educational interventions.
"Despite the efforts of staff, it is becoming increasingly difficult to deliver the education that they want for their students, and we need more honesty about the challenges schools face.
"It is vital that the Government’s education recovery plan looks more seriously at the longer-term problems that are still being exacerbated by the pandemic."
