Are masks here to stay in secondary schools?

[Tonylepony]

My dc hate them but wear them without question. DS wears glasses which can be annoying as he does get issues with them steaming up but he rarely complains. I’m a little concerned about the summer when it gets hot as DD is prone to fainting. I remember Boris saying dc would be required to wear masks until Easter and it would then be reviewed, but I’ve not heard anything since. Anyone had an update?

I’m a teacher and hate it with a passion
Same here - the children are not getting the educational experience they deserve.
The original pretext for these measur I’m a teacher and hate it with a passion. es has long gone with vaccinations and improved treatments and understanding of the virus -eg average age of death from Covid is the sane as from other causes- the NHS is no longer at risk of being overwhelmed by people dying or in IC from Covid.

I think it’s absolutely horrific putting children in makes all day long

You should try heading over to Twitter and see the thousands of posts from young people/children/teens telling adults like you not to speak for them and that they are fine wearing masks.

And Quidditch Queen - that is easy for you to say when you have already been vaccinated. Have some recognition for all of your colleagues who haven’t.

Oh here we are - the usual pile on that happens in so many threads. I am citing a gov site. If it’s wrong and corrupt sadly I can’t fix that.

Ok keep kids in masks. Say tests are useless. I hope that helps you feel better about the world. Let’s stop taking them and stop the kids doing them - phew save plastics too. Yay you all won 🎉

Really you want vaccinations and to be better treated by gov. And that’s fair enough. Maybe focus your energy on that.

The only people I see with a problem with masks are here on Mumsnet. None of the pupils in my classes are even phased by it. In a school of over over 2000 we have 7 exemptions, it’s just accepted cos you know, benefits of the community. I’m in despair of colleagues who moan about mask wearing. Maybe this attitude is picked up on be students and that’s why they complain? Lead by example.

@Newgirls the government site is correct but misleading. They are very accurate because if the lateral flow says you are positive then it's 99% correct.

However what the gov site doesn't make clear is that if the lateral flow says negative then it is only around 60% accurate.

Basically lateral flows are much less sensitive than PCR. You can have confidence in the positive result but not the negative.

4 out of 5 in this household are doing them twice a week anyway.

@CallmeHendricks

Why are people so determined to believe that schools are safe and do not need any of the same mitigations in common use everywhere else?

It's been the same from day 1, back up by the media and the government. Ridiculous articles and images to support it.

Any anecdotal information from those in schools is rubbished.

Some people will go to any lengths at all to find a reason why Covid came from an alternative place rather than someone picked up Covid At school - anywhere other than in a school.

Even if they do accept it came from school they will always say it had to be adult to adult, never allowed to be from a child.

The government and the DfE have encouraged people to believe that Covid doesn't affect schools.

Those working in them generally know that's rubbish.

@motherrunner

The only people I see with a problem with masks are here on Mumsnet. None of the pupils in my classes are even phased by it. In a school of over over 2000 we have 7 exemptions, it’s just accepted cos you know, benefits of the community. I’m in despair of colleagues who moan about mask wearing. Maybe this attitude is picked up on be students and that’s why they complain? Lead by example.

Exactly my experience of the secondary school age and student age people I know. All are wearing masks with no issues bar a very small minority. Most just want to wear them to be able to be back in school and are happy to compromise. Seems to be certain parents more bothered about it than the actual secondary schools kids themselves.

We have had masks in the playground for parents since September. Compliance is around 99% - it's vvv u usual to see someone without in our playground or the junior school next door.

The only place I ever see a fuss about them as a temporary measure until the pandemic is over is mumsnet. Been the same scenario since masks were introduced in England.

@motherrunner

The only people I see with a problem with masks are here on Mumsnet. None of the pupils in my classes are even phased by it. In a school of over over 2000 we have 7 exemptions, it’s just accepted cos you know, benefits of the community. I’m in despair of colleagues who moan about mask wearing. Maybe this attitude is picked up on be students and that’s why they complain? Lead by example.

That’s heartening to hear after seeing and reading much selfish behaviour from adults re the pandemic.

My son usually loves school. He has told me that he can't enjoy lessons any more, even in his favourite subjects, because he's just counting down the time to when he can get home and take the mask off.

@WaltzForDebbie

My son usually loves school. He has told me that he can't enjoy lessons any more, even in his favourite subjects, because he's just counting down the time to when he can get home and take the mask off.

You can request that he is exempt from mask wearing if you/he wishes.

Or you could try a different mask. Some are more comfortable than others.

It is heartening to see so many young people on Twitter saying why they are ok with wearing masks and asking adults not to speak on their behalf.
My teen dc all wear masks and understand the need to do so.
After seeing how poorly I was after contracting covid from my school they understand it’s to protect others. So many school staff are still unvaccinated so it’s another measure to protect them.

Good to see you, starry!

Agree that there are adults projecting their concerns onto young people and it is heartening to see young people having none of it.

@Newgirls

Wow what a weird angle to take! The school tests were done by science teachers and doctors (it’s a very academic school with keen parents) and educated parents. So six tests seem very accurate to me!

I think some people want to find issues

Wow! I thought secondary school tests were carried out by the pupils themselves? You must be an anomaly situation though. Our in-school tests were carried out by individual students and observed by hastily trained volunteers. Now conducted at home, they are subject to no standards at all.

@noblegiraffe

Or you could try a different mask. Some are more comfortable than others.

He wouldn't want to be exempt as he doesn't want to stand out from his friends.

Wow what a weird angle to take!

From someone who understands probability, as she’s a Maths teacher?

OP if DD is prone to fainting, then perhaps this needs addressing, face coverings or not.

My understanding was that face coverings are to continue, and even if they stop, be prepared for the possibility of re-introduction for part of next winter, I suggest.

@Newgirls

Oh here we are - the usual pile on that happens in so many threads. I am citing a gov site. If it’s wrong and corrupt sadly I can’t fix that.

Ok keep kids in masks. Say tests are useless. I hope that helps you feel better about the world. Let’s stop taking them and stop the kids doing them - phew save plastics too. Yay you all won 🎉

Really you want vaccinations and to be better treated by gov. And that’s fair enough. Maybe focus your energy on that.

And here we have the same old deflection tactics that we know and love from earlier in the pandemic. A poster makes a contentious claim. Independent posters refute it, with evidence.
Accusations of cliques and pile-ons in an attempt to silence others.

WaltzForDebbie

You have quoted the wrong person about mask exemption.

I will be requesting a mask exemption for my DC when we return, hope it is granted as easily as suggested on here.

Wow! I thought secondary school tests were carried out by the pupils themselves?

Yes, they are

You must be an anomaly situation though

Agree, highly anomalous

Our in-school tests were carried out by individual students and observed by hastily trained volunteers. Now conducted at home, they are subject to no standards at all

Sounds bang on typical

You can request that he is exempt from mask wearing if you/he wishes

I doubt that'll fly - he's shown he can wear it for a whole school, day. Hating to do so does not make you exempt. It's being actually unable that matters.

Interesting that people view kids being tested by adults in school as anomaly.

I have kids in 2 schools that are testing- all tests done by staff. 1 school still testing at school, the other we now test at home.

2 other local schools- tests done by staff.

I thought it was standard for staff/adult volunteers to be doing the testing at school.

On masks- DD can't wait To be rid of them- she wears glasses & steams up.
DS doesn't really mind though he is getting very spotty round his mouth.

The testing may be done/supervised in schools poshme but the staff are not actually physically putting the swabs up the noses and throats, the pupils are.

Also, there are lots of things you could do to make your DD’s experience with masks and glasses better (as a glasses wearer myself) and I would urge you to do them to help her. She doesn’t have have that experience of fogging up.

I think it is anomalous because it goes against the government advice that pupils test themselves, and the union's advice to teachers that they should not be expected to carry out the tests.

Schools were attempting to recruit armies of volunteers to carry out the testing for the start of term in January, but that was quietly dropped by the time March opening hove into view.