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?

@FriedHam

I think the DFE will rightly be taking action against schools that are refusing to implement the new mask policy. The expert advice is that the benefits of masks in schools no longer outweigh the disadvantages.

We cannot have a situation where individual schools are making up their own policies on the hoof.

Hopefully the government will issue a very clear instruction to schools that it will take action if they refuse to follow instructions.

No, you’re right. Schools having to make things up on the hoof would be awful.

Oh. Wait. Isn’t that what we’ve had to do all year?

I wish it was every secondary school still.

@FriedHam

I think the DFE will rightly be taking action against schools that are refusing to implement the new mask policy. The expert advice is that the benefits of masks in schools no longer outweigh the disadvantages.

We cannot have a situation where individual schools are making up their own policies on the hoof.

Hopefully the government will issue a very clear instruction to schools that it will take action if they refuse to follow instructions.

That’s absolute bollocks- both SAGE and independent SAGE have advised against it. Where are you getting your misinformation from?

Well the DfE and Gavin have shown themselves to be utter incompetent knobs throughout this pandemic so whatever they recommend you would be safer to do the opposite.

What @sunshiningbetty said

@FriedHam

I think the DFE will rightly be taking action against schools that are refusing to implement the new mask policy. The expert advice is that the benefits of masks in schools no longer outweigh the disadvantages.

We cannot have a situation where individual schools are making up their own policies on the hoof.

Hopefully the government will issue a very clear instruction to schools that it will take action if they refuse to follow instructions.

The DofE won't take action. They'll probably be quite happy having relied on Heads being sensible enough to follow the science and have serious vested interest in the health of their own schools.

So sod the unvaccinated teachers, and other school staff, eh? We’re back to being collateral damage again....2 weeks to resignation deadline. This will make a difference to who might be stood in front of your child in September.

On the basis that this was reviewed on a daily basis by local directors of public health.

If you ask local directors of public health you’ll almost certainly end up with masks in schools and not just in corridors. The government have chosen to issue guidance that goes against scientific advice and against practice almost everywhere else. A parent could decide to challenge it, but given there are exemptions for children who need it I don’t really see it getting anywhere in a court of law.

The expert advice is that the benefits of masks in schools no longer outweigh the disadvantages

I think you'll find 'experts' are saying the complete opposite!

We’ve had Masks to be worn in communal areas where social distancing cannot be maintained.

Eminently sensible. Corridors are a crush every day.

That's what our LEA is advising. Agree, very sensible.

Of course the DofE aren't going to take action against schools for keeping masks. It's the ideal outcome for them, because they get to appeal to the right wing anti maskers while schools take the blame for following the science and keeping people safe. It's a win-win for the government.

Same. And good.

I'd emailed both schools saying I'd rather they keep masks until all adults are vaccinated. I'd rather schools didn't need to shut again. We're in touching distance of being OK, until deepest winter anyway, it had better not go to shit now.

I am surprised Boris didn't just say that masks would stay until half term. It is only two more weeks and would give them time to make sure we haven't got a India variant problem. A slight delay but only two weeks.

@SunshiningBetty

Well the DfE and Gavin have shown themselves to be utter incompetent knobs throughout this pandemic so whatever they recommend you would be safer to do the opposite.

Very well put

@SunshiningBetty

Well the DfE and Gavin have shown themselves to be utter incompetent knobs throughout this pandemic so whatever they recommend you would be safer to do the opposite.

One is pretty safe if one considers what would gav do, and then do the opposite.

That’s absolute bollocks- both SAGE and independent SAGE have advised against it. Where are you getting your misinformation from?

Us4Them of course. Who else could persuade Johnson to make such a stupid decision against proper scientific advice?

Same at my school. Our head has said they won't change the risk assessment before half term but will review it after then and hasn't said they'd change that.

Remember guidance is just that. Heads must RA. And if the risk is still considered high they must do what they can to lower it.

I'm glad HT are doing proper risk assessments and trying to keep schools as safe as the can be knowing what we know about the high rates of secondary kids being the index case in a household.

We are having masks in communcal areas, indoor areas at breaka nd lunch and optional in classrooms.

The government are ridiculous for getting rid of them right now - especially given they are standing up there tonight saying 21st June might not go ahead - why not keep the little things that might help us get the bigger things?

@FriedHam

I think the DFE will rightly be taking action against schools that are refusing to implement the new mask policy. The expert advice is that the benefits of masks in schools no longer outweigh the disadvantages.

We cannot have a situation where individual schools are making up their own policies on the hoof.

Hopefully the government will issue a very clear instruction to schools that it will take action if they refuse to follow instructions.

What like the threats of legal action taken against the schools who wanted to close for a week before Xmas. Who were absolutely right in wanting to from what we then learnt about the Kent variant, the severe second wave as a result of their actions - evidence kids were driving household transmission and then them opening schools for a day before a national lockdown.

My initial thought when Boris said "no masks required in schools" was "it would be sensible for masks to remain in schools!"

We cannot have a situation where individual schools are making up their own policies on the hoof the government is in favour of free schools and academies, in order that they can make up their own policies on the hoof

Ours is ditching them in accordance with gvt advice.
Pretty poor that schools pick and choose the advice -if gvt is guided by science won what basis do these schools think they have better knowledge? Nonsensical.

I work in a school and all are allowed to ditch masks from Monday.

Ours started by saying no masks but we have had updated letter stating the Director of Children and Families for my local authority has been advised by Public Health that if social distancing cannot be maintained then masks must be worn. This is in the corridors not classrooms.

Our cases locally are higher than those of the England average. It does specifically state that this is for a temporary period in response to localised outbreak.

Once the number of incidences comes down then they will write to inform us of any changes.

Just seen the email from school and ours are leaving it up to individual children to decide. Not happy, but better than a ban. The intellectually challenged are celebrating on the fb page though. Doubt we will come out of this for a long time.