Masks in school in area NOT in local lockdown - England

[Jamdemic]

Anyone else's school in English gone straight in at the deep end for the start of term and made masks compulsory in communal areas like Scotland?
I think the advice is that this is a measure for areas in local lockdown, but my DC school is doing it anyway.
Going to be really really really hard and horrible for pupils new to the school to make any friends or recognise any teachers.

DS' college is doing it too (in Hampshire, case numbers are quite low here, but then wearing masks is a good way to keep them that way).

Our area has v low virus numbers, as does whole region.

I’ve just posted in Secondary Education.
DS1 is about to go into Y11 and his school have made masks mandatory all day from the minute you walk into the school gate until when you leave. In all lessons and all transitions. They are allowed to take them off to eat but then must be put back on again.

We are in an area with very very low infection rates, it’s completely crazy!!

Although I’m wondering if the same area...

Also wondering if same area.

Ours says unless eating / outside or actually in a lesson then masks must be worn.

@twinkletoesimnot

Ours have to be worn in all lessons. They are allowed them off to eat/drink.

It is devastating to be joining a new school under these conditions.

@Jamdemic

Does your HT look remarkably like a Disney character by any chance?

My kid's secondary school have said it is a personal choice. As it should be in my opinion.

I’m ok with corridors and communal areas. At HTs discretion.

I have an issue with them in class not advised to be used there.

@ihearttc

I’ve just posted in Secondary Education. DS1 is about to go into Y11 and his school have made masks mandatory all day from the minute you walk into the school gate until when you leave. In all lessons and all transitions. They are allowed to take them off to eat but then must be put back on again.

We are in an area with very very low infection rates, it’s completely crazy!!

I would be very unhappy with this, is way beyond what the recommendations are.

Desperately trying not to out myself but maybe it’s the same school!!

@MarshaBradyo

I’m ok with corridors and communal areas. At HTs discretion.

I have an issue with them in class not advised to be used there.

Why do you think the classroom is less risky than the corridor?

I agree. It’s absolutely crazy and completely unnecessary.

Yes and it’s ridiculous. Apparently it’s because we are NEAR a high risk area, but it’s a totally over subscribed school so zero kids from the high risk area attend. There’s much more risk to kids of putting on an increasingly filthy mask with filthy hands (nobody will be reminding them to wash or sanitise them before putting on their mask)

I think communal areas is standard regardless of local lockdown or not.
All the schools I know of in London are doing it (I teach at one, have colleagues in others, kids of friends in others)

So corridors/stairs/halls is a good idea for masks where social distancing is absolutely impossible.

Classroom is at discretion. For student and teacher.

Carrue the guidance is upfront about where discretion should be applied and I prefer the HT knows the guidance.

@Jamdemic

It is devastating to be joining a new school under these conditions.

Hmmm! It's not great, but it's not devastating.

Carrie

I don't think it's the same school. But it is too much to start in a new school like this. Really upsetting. And worse to know that other school are not going down this route and their pupils will be enjoying a more normal experience.
The guidelines state this is for areas in local lockdown.

Here

‘Face coverings can have a negative impact on learning and teaching and so their use in the classroom should be avoided.’

@MarshaBradyo so the HT knows the guidance and used their discretion but you aren’t happy with them using their discretion?

Op your school can do it for communal etc, it’s not just local lockdown areas. It’s up to the HT.

Carrie discretion is for communal areas not classroom have quoted guidance below.

@MarshaBradyo

Here

‘Face coverings can have a negative impact on learning and teaching and so their use in the classroom should be avoided.’

Bubbles bursting and kids having to isolate can also have a negative impact on learning and teaching...just sayin'