School still requiring masks in communal areas

[TheFuckThatIGave]

We've just had letters today from both ds's schools saying that following discussions amongst area heads, all secondaries in the area will still be requiring students to wear face masks in communal areas from Monday, exempt students aside. This is directly contrary to the DfE guidance this week. Anyone else had similar?

@twelly

The rules have changed that is the point , therefore schools still adopting the policy are not complying . Of course people can choose, schools choosing to keep these measures is not in keeping with the law and in my view should not have the authority to override the regulations. Of course we all have views on masks and the effectiveness but I feel that we have now national regulations which we follow and schools are not above this - either way. Iif schools had said no masks when the government had said masks then I would have argued similarly that the school should follow national regulations

The rules haven't changed.

The guidance has changed.

Schools still have to risk assess and must have a COVID risk assessment. That may include use of masks in communal areas to reduce risk.

You've been told this umpteen times - what part of it don't you understand?

@twelly

Gov.U.K. Website ; facecovings no longer required in schools and colleges from May 17

"No longer required"

Therefore no longer law.

It does not say that you mustn't have masks as part of your LEGAL H and S risk assessments. It doesn't say it is illegal to ask pupils to wear masks.

All the bits - plus the understanding part.

Wind up merchant.

@Feenie

Think about it

Good luck with that!

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You are after winning the whole internet today aren't you.

They have to put a mask on for five minutes between classrooms. So what? I saw kids playing out today at school in Italy with masks on, kids as young as 6. You have absolutely no idea how lucky you are in the UK do you?

@Feenie

All the bits - plus the understanding part.

Wind up merchant.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

HAT-RICK

Fortunately the bulk of schools will not be acting against the latest regulation so masks. We will be heading back to normality.

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@twelly

Fortunately the bulk of schools will not be acting against the latest regulation so masks. We will be heading back to normality.

Sure about that? The anecdotal evidence on this thread doesn’t support your assertion.

I'm waiting for someone to link to the "regulation"

So far I've only seen the guidance

Wouldn't put it past DfE to send out new guidance at 11pm on Sunday telling schools masks should still be worn in classrooms!

@ineedaholidaynow

Wouldn't put it past DfE to send out new guidance at 11pm on Sunday telling schools masks should still be worn in classrooms!

Yep

Yes same - several classes off and that’s with wearing masks
The irony totally missed by that poster.
Utterly pointless to wear them then.

And those who jeep repeating the mantra that Sage sats wear masks seem unable or unwilling to understand that Sage is purely interested in the single issue of Covid, not in any the wider societal issues. Sage should not be allowed ti dictate decisions on matters above their pay grade.

The irony totally missed by that poster.
Utterly pointless to wear them then.

The classes being off doesn’t mean everyone in those classes has caught Covid you know and despite the precaution, may thankfully have not passed it on to the adult staff or each other.

Wearing masks can help prevent the spread for those who contract it outside of schools-you know, the ones caught it having play dates, mixing with others etc. without masks.
Doesn’t mean masks are useless.

On the contrary, they are a good measure of protection. Maybe you would have preferred the whole school to close instead?

Of course, we don’t not wear seatbelts, despite accidents and injuries still happening..

The single issue of Covid is a pretty big one and it’s odd to berate posters for listening to the experts on that one. Especially with posters like you wanting to mix no masks, with the Indian variant and everything else opening up much more fully. Your societal issues are going to take a bit of a battering, if more children are going to have to self isolate, along with their parent/carer.

The cognitive dissonance is strong with this one.

I am not sure I know what the wider societal issues of students and teachers wearing masks in crowded corridors are.

@Watapalava

I gov guidance it states clearly that schools must apply for permission to deviate from gov guidance

I’m not confident all these heads have

The guidance makes it clear they cannot force their own rules

Not on masks, it doesn't. The statement is ONLY in the section on attendance (and I suspect has probably been there since March or even September, so schools considering e.g. part time timetables to reduce numbers in the buildings needed permission).

It is NOT in the (separate) section on face coverings.

So heads have access to the data showing the effect of masks on learning, communication etc etc?

Well, yes, they will - or at least they can gain it from talking to the teachers. Teachers will know (at an informal observational level and also through mark books etc) whether the progress their students have made since returning to school has been obviously affected by face masks.

Because the gov do and presumably at this moment have deemed that those issues are now outweighing benefit of masks

The Government do not, as they do not have access to the daily experience of teachers throughout each school, in the way that a Head does.