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.

@ChloeDecker

blackwych Where are the safety measures for primary schools? Errm open a window if you can, and wash your hands.

Got to laugh, or else i'll cry

Don’t forget the wet paper towels

Wet paper towels are the magic cure for everything in primary school isn't it 😄

My school allows masks, I've not been wearing one in the classroom up to now but will do whenever it is I get back to in person teaching.

Dd has started getting upset at some teachers not social distancing and not wearing masks in classrooms, sometimes shouting quite close to children. Be interesting to see if that changes this year, think we sometimes forget children are also very conscious about their safety, even if they're unlikely to be particularly unwell they certainly don't want to have to isolate if it can be avoided.

Teacher's friend with masks.

No, not the bloke.

Yy wonder if, some people don't care or realise but many do!

I teach boarders and still support them wearing masks in lessons as it limits my exposure to the virus

Even if they've all been tested at the start of term and don't go anywhere?

@MrsMiaWallis do they never leave site at all? I assume they can pick up from staff and then the virus can transmit from them

@MrsMiaWallis and @ineedaholidaynow
Sorry, your posts continued whilst I was typing. Even full boarding schools are unlikely to be tight bubbles. Housekeeping, catering, maintenance and teachers will be in contact with the children even if they are only seeing other boarding children in their bubble (which is highly unlikely, believe me). Masks are the safer option for all.

Good start.

I work secondary severe LD special. I can and will wear a mask. My pupils won't and will return Monday as usual.

@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.

Some schools here did ban staff from wearing masks until recently.

The rise in cases since end of November made them change their minds.

You can really see the difference between a caring management team and a rubbish one at the moment. The government lack of planning or action aside.

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@MrsMiaWallis do they never leave site at all? I assume they can pick up from staff and then the virus can transmit from them[/quote]
Yes, I'm not questioning the chance of transmission, more that I think parents will feel that masks are unnecessary- not me obviously, I've been on here long enough 😉

Just wondered if any rules would be different in residential settings.

As well as doing this I hope they will consider making it a priority to get severely disabled children who can't and won't wear masks vaccinated. As usual the special needs schools are just supposed to get on with things as usual, even while others are closed. It seems madness to me to expect business as usual for the most vulnerable children and their teachers.

@EndoplasmicReticulum

Yes! Another thing they could do to help would be easing off on the uniform requirements for a bit, it's going to be cold in classrooms with all the windows open. Would students in coats really be so bad?

That's down to Head Teachers though. Common Fucking Sense doesn't need to be mandated. Surely?!?!

I hope the masks become compulsory though.

Finding for ventilation would be brilliant, but sadly can't see it happening when they seem to think all classrooms have windows that actually open & look onto green playing fields!

The idea of teachers wearing masks is utterly ridiculous. For students it could work but I think there needs to be a good level of discipline and also regular breaks where students don’t have to wear them possibly they could go outside every hour or so

Possibly a teacher could wear a see through visor instead

The idea of teachers wearing masks is utterly ridiculous

Lots of other countries seem to have managed it just fine .

@Achristmaspudsskidu

The idea of teachers wearing masks is utterly ridiculous

Lots of other countries seem to have managed it just fine .

Have you been to a UK school recently? The teacher needs to have a lot about them to keep control and also in order to teach effectively students need to be able to clearly hear the teacher and have clear communication the teacher wearing a mask impedes that massively

In my school (secondary) pupils have been wearing masks for sometime. I take mine off and wear a visor when speaking to the whole class and mask up the rest of the time. It’s hard work trying to hear what pupils are saying at times but does make me feel safer as a lot of the rooms I teach in aren’t well ventilated and aren’t big enough to be 2 meters from the pupils.

@Dummingcom12

The idea of teachers wearing masks is utterly ridiculous. For students it could work but I think there needs to be a good level of discipline and also regular breaks where students don’t have to wear them possibly they could go outside every hour or so

Why is it?

@Staffy1

As well as doing this I hope they will consider making it a priority to get severely disabled children who can't and won't wear masks vaccinated. As usual the special needs schools are just supposed to get on with things as usual, even while others are closed. It seems madness to me to expect business as usual for the most vulnerable children and their teachers.

Yes these schools should be treated like the care homes ideally. All staff and students vaccinated.

I would have thought even if they looked at it from a harsh keeping hospital beds clear point of view they would come to that conclusion. Some of these children will need more care if they get covid etc

Have you been to a UK school recently? The teacher needs to have a lot about them to keep control and also in order to teach effectively students need to be able to clearly hear the teacher and have clear communication the teacher wearing a mask impedes that massively

Yes, thanks. I have been teaching here for nearly 25 years.

Kids wearing masks is surely better than the teacher wearing a mask? Would be better for the teacher and easier for the kids to hear

As the parent of a year 11, I'd be pleased to see this step taken. Any measures that could be taken to improve ventilation would also be very welcome, but I appreciate that's difficult in classrooms with no windows

As a governor for our local primary school, I'd like to see similar measures introduced there, at least for the older year groups. We owe it to all of our teachers and other school staff to keep them safe.

I've said this from the start, the kids need to wear masks

@Takeitonthechin

I've said this from the start, the kids need to wear masks

So did the WHO (for over 12s)

@Dummingcom12 the idea of teachers NOT wearing masks is utterly ridiculous but it seems to have gained traction among the more crazy people and DFE. Most of Europe seem to think it's fine and it's allowing schools to be safer there. But some people will never see common sense.

Unfortunately, I have to teach their children.