Face masks no longer required in classrooms
It's part of the government's easing of coronavirus restrictions
Last updated 17th May 2021
Last week Rachel De Souza, Child commissioner for England visited her former secondary school, St Bede’s Catholic Academy, and one topic high on the agenda was pupils not having to wear face masks.
This move is part of the prime minister’s roadmap out of lockdown where pupils in secondaries and colleges will not need to wear masks in classrooms or communal spaces.
Speaking to us, Rachel said:
“I had a full briefing from Public Health England and asked them is it time to get these face masks off and they were very confident that it is a good time and I think that will help everyone get back to normal after lockdown.”
Thomas Foley, a student at the school, said:
“It’s been annoying wearing them in general, people like to feel safe but sometimes but people want to take them off and they can’t."
Some pupils in North West areas of England are being told to carry on wearing face masks in the classroom amid concerns about the Indian variant of coronavirus.
A school leaders union' said it supported the schools which were planning to extend the use of face coverings among pupils beyond next week, adding that they are best placed'' to make the call.
Though MPs and parents have raised concerns about face masks in class disrupting pupils' learning and wellbeing since they were introduced in March.
In an interview with us, Ryan Hibbard, the headteacher at St Bede’s, said:
“Anyone that wears a mask that to do so for six hours constantly is a real problem. It doesn’t help in terms of communication that staff and students have, been able to know who’s asking them questions can be a bit of a challenge.”