Government finally considering making schools safer - masks in secondary classrooms

[noblegiraffe]

Someone has apparently told the government that there are other options between schools open as normal and closed.

schoolsweek.co.uk/government-planning-to-make-face-masks-compulsory-in-secondary-school-classrooms-dfe-official-says/

"The Department for Education is considering plans to make face masks compulsory in the classroom for pupils in year 7 and above, as well as their teachers, a government official said during a briefing on Covid plans."

The rest of the world think that we're batshit for leaving it this long, but if true, would be a positive move.

Obviously exemptions would apply.

Maybe someone could also suggest funding for improved ventilation?

And to drop the stupid inaccurate testing instead of isolating close contacts plan.

Still, baby steps.

[quote LadyPenelope68]@MrsMiaWallis
Hopefully boarding schools will be exempt unless governors think it will make a huge difference.
What a ridiculous statement. Do you think staff and children are protected just because you pay fees????[/quote]
Of course not. But they are "bubbling" together (BOARDING) and have regular testing. No cases at all last term.

What's Eton doing? They had to close before Christmas due to a covid outbreak didn't they?

No cases at my school obviously not all boarding schools

If the teachers at the school really want this to happen then I'll support it - just wondered if rules are different in residential settings.

My secondary school child has been required to wear a face covering for months...

The thought of teaching and trying to project my voice all day with a mask on fills me with horror.

Irish teachers have been doing this since September, it's not that hard. You can get a mic pack if it's an issue.

Tbh I've been horrified reading that English teachers are banned from wearing masks in classrooms. I presume all schools weren't like that, horrendous to try ban people from protecting themselves as best they can in a pandemic.

I've worn a mask to teach since September. All students have worn them in lessons (no exceptions - even the students in our ASD centre have managed it). Its fine. A bit hot, you quickly work out which your "comfy" masks are, and they can get a bit gross after double Y11 (but I always carry a clean spare). All teachers carry a hygiene kit which has a number of disposables for students who break/lose theirs. It's fine, and probably why we only unded up having to send home a whole year group in the last week of term

Its a start but not enough.

I don't actually care whether youngsters are made to wear masks in school or not.

What I DO bloody care about is them not wearing masks in the supermarket. If children in other countries can manage to wear them from age 6, then they can manage here too.

@SionnachRua

The thought of teaching and trying to project my voice all day with a mask on fills me with horror.

Irish teachers have been doing this since September, it's not that hard. You can get a mic pack if it's an issue.

Tbh I've been horrified reading that English teachers are banned from wearing masks in classrooms. I presume all schools weren't like that, horrendous to try ban people from protecting themselves as best they can in a pandemic.

In Scotland we have been wearing masks for a good few months. Not the children though although some kids have come in wearing them. Its not that bad though. Quite frankly without SD its still not acceptable.

@IfTheSockFits
I don't actually care whether youngsters are made to wear masks in school or not. What I DO bloody care about is them not wearing masks in the supermarket. If children in other countries can manage to wear them from age 6, then they can manage here too.
So you think it’s more a priority that a child, who is socially distancing, wears a mask in a supermarket rather than when they’re in close proximity to their peers and school staff? Do you realise how ridiculous you sound??

In Scotland we have been wearing masks for a good few months. Not the children though although some kids have come in wearing them.Its not that bad though. Quite frankly without SD its still not acceptable.

I reckon they'll start making senior primary classes wear masks in Ireland (age 9-12 maybe?). Bit ridiculous in primary atm where the teachers wear masks but not kids. Our secondary school kids are all in masks.

It's not perfect but at least it's something. Agreed on the SD though!

[quote LadyPenelope68]@IfTheSockFits
I don't actually care whether youngsters are made to wear masks in school or not. What I DO bloody care about is them not wearing masks in the supermarket. If children in other countries can manage to wear them from age 6, then they can manage here too.
So you think it’s more a priority that a child, who is socially distancing, wears a mask in a supermarket rather than when they’re in close proximity to their peers and school staff? Do you realise how ridiculous you sound??[/quote]
The lunacy here in Scotland is that over the age of 5 it is compulsory to wear them in the supermarket but not in school. Absolutely ridiculous.

I feel so sorry for teachers who are in the infant classes. They have absolutely no chance for any SD. Most in my school who are in the younger classes don't wear a mask either but I am teaching 9 year olds and always do and tell the children to step back.
It is incredibly difficult to SD. I do put my mask down when i am at the front of the class but then the kids rock up right in your face.

@MrsMiaWallis there are some boarders at DS's school, although it is primarily a day school. Most of these boarders are from places like Hong Kong and they are the students who have opted to wear masks all the time, has been optional in classrooms but mandatory in corridors since September.

All my windows are open and if they complain i tell them to put their jackets on.

@IfTheSockFits

I don't actually care whether youngsters are made to wear masks in school or not.

What I DO bloody care about is them not wearing masks in the supermarket. If children in other countries can manage to wear them from age 6, then they can manage here too.

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@MrsMiaWallis there are some boarders at DS's school, although it is primarily a day school. Most of these boarders are from places like Hong Kong and they are the students who have opted to wear masks all the time, has been optional in classrooms but mandatory in corridors since September.[/quote]
Primarily a day school is a bit different though.

How long will it take to get put into practise?
Or will us 4 them say its too mentally disturbing and will hinder their education for ever.

No one has come on here and said it's child abuse yet.

Which is a major improvement from the summer.

So why is a full boarding school different? Is it because they are on site all the time so they wouldn't be bringing it on site

@Fortherosesjoni70

All my windows are open and if they complain i tell them to put their jackets on.

Ventilation I agree

Masks then that and it gets a bit better

English teachers are not banned from wearing a mask in the classroom! The govt says it's unnecessary and recommends we don't but we can do what we like, nobody can stop us.

The issue is that there is limited point unless the majority of children wear them too.

My ds2 is in year 6 and has been wearing a mask all day during lessons. The school/his teacher hasn't said he can't (and I'd complain if they did) he wears it through choice and is usually the only one to wear it.

I'd prefer dd (y8) to wear hers all day but she wears glasses and hates them steaming up. I hope they make it compulsory for secondary pupils just to try and stop the virus being brought home.

@manicinsomniac

English teachers are not banned from wearing a mask in the classroom! The govt says it's unnecessary and recommends we don't but we can do what we like, nobody can stop us.

The issue is that there is limited point unless the majority of children wear them too.

Quite a few English teachers on here talk about being banned from wearing masks by their schools. It's shameful for any school to do that imo.

@MrsMiaWallis
I teach boarders and still support them wearing masks in lessons as it limits my exposure to the virus. Boarding pupils catch Covid and spread it in exactly the same way as other pupil. I am not sure if you are aware of now many overseas students from the big public schools were tested on their return to their home countries at Christmas and were found to be asymptomatic. It led to quite a number of pupils having to isolate. If this hadn’t been done, they’d all have been shedding virus far and wide.