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?

@Lougle

Our school has said no masks on site, but masks still needed on buses. Teachers will still distance and only move around the classroom where necessary.

I’d rather keep the masks in order for the teacher to be able to circulate the room a bit and be able to speak to my child and look at their work in the lesson.

Just had an email from DC school to say masks still required at all times, in our case the director of public health in Lancashire has advised it

Our local school is too.
A Y11 bubble went down on Tuesday and around 30 kids are all back on remote learning. Then a positive lateral flow took out a load of Y9s on Thursday - thankfully that PCR came through negative this morning so most were back in school this afternoon, but it just seems sensible to continue to put some mitigation in for now.

My daughter's HE college said they don't want to ditch masks yet because they are having the students all in class for the first time next week. (Up to now they have had 2/3 of the class in with 1/3 at home on a rotating basis so they all get 2/3 face to face teaching time.) The college feels that reducing social distancing with more kids in the room and not requiring masks at the same time would be too big a jump in risk. They are staying mandatory in classrooms, corridors and library, but in the (large) canteen and outdoors they'll be optional.

My academy trust have said masks are staying for all, all the time, until at least half term. Many of our staff haven’t even had the first dose of vaccination yet and so it’s about protecting them.

@TeddingtonTrashbag

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'm guessing that the fact that in every other public solace they are still mandatory les some schools to thinking it was probably still a good idea.

What's non sensical is Boris thinking schools will not have COVID transmission just because it suits his narrative.

Even more non sensical when we now know a mass outbreak in school was the new Indian variant caused by people not quarantining.

Yes same - several classes off and that’s with wearing masks

My school are ditching them entirely for students. I’m quite pleased tbh - I’m worried about a third wave, but at the same time my behaviour management has started to slip because the kids have realised that I can’t really tell who is whispering when I’m talking because they’ve learned to talk without the mask moving. If I can’t ensure they’re listening when I’m talking my effectiveness as a teacher is drastically reduced.

I’m in a very low incidence area. We’ve had no isolating students for weeks and no outbreaks locally that I’ve heard of either. That is probably affecting my “yay, no more masks” stance.

My DDs' is saying they are 'no longer recommended from Monday as of the time of writing' outside of public transport and the school dedicated transport (so will need them for PE as they bus off site), but also stated that there may be times when the local area or school's risk assessment will recommend their return. They tend to follow the local Public Health plan to the letter.

I suspect my DS's will continue with them for a range of reason, but we've no information yet - likely get something last minute again.

I've no real strong feelings either way, schools will do what they, but not recommended doesn't mean banned. With what schools can require from attire to equipment, I'm not sure how much could be done to schools for not following the change in recommendations, especially for being more cautious.

Our LEA has taken advice from Public Health today and recommend them in communal areas because cases are above national average (slightly) - ds’s school said last week they will be optional. Have emailed and asked if they are changing this in the light of today’s LEA advice and if not, why not.

Optional in classrooms. Compulsory in communal areas.

Almost zero cases where we are.

Ds school has two full years working from home due to outbreaks & bubbles collapsing. Much as we think that the virus is dying, it isn't. Thankfully we (including ds) are all fully vaccinated as of yesterday when I had my 2nd injection.

@Feenie

Masks are only recommended (ie optional) in schools at the moment.

Nothing will change in that regard, except that the benefits of masks no longer outweigh the substantial harms to learning and communication. They will therefore no longer be recommended in schools.

Schools that try to unilaterally go against the new policy will find themselves very quickly on a shaky wicket.

I would certainly report any local schools requiring masks to the DfE and I would expect strong action to be taken against them, up to and including dismissal of the head.

Ffs Fried Ham, get a new hobby. Persecuting heads for trying to keep their staff and children safe. Diagraceful.

@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.

Why? Why do you want action taken against schools that are trying to protect their staff, their pupils & their pupils contacts?

I work in a secondary school where they will be required in communal areas and optional in class from Monday.

Today I asked every group who would still be wearing them next week, a surprising amount said they would be. I totally expected them all to say no.

It's not about persecuting anyone @AbsoluteCasserole. The government has issued a clear command that masks are no longer to be recommended in schools.

Frankly, heads now need to follow that edict or resign or be sacked.

@TruelyWonder

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.

Because that's FAR too sensible.

They're doing FAR to much at once, this would have been easy to roll back on. Reassess at half term

Shall we go & take their places? I suspect I'll need to redecorate though!

@TeddingtonTrashbag

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.

But they're NOT following the science. The scientists are saying KEEP the masks.

In the area I live, the reason for continued mask wearing in communal areas in secondary schools is because from all the current cases in the county 67% is from the 0-19 years of age category, it will be this way until at least half term..I agree with it to be honest. All other secondaries in my town are also doing the exact same thing.

[quote FriedHam]@Feenie

Masks are only recommended (ie optional) in schools at the moment.

Nothing will change in that regard, except that the benefits of masks no longer outweigh the substantial harms to learning and communication. They will therefore no longer be recommended in schools.

Schools that try to unilaterally go against the new policy will find themselves very quickly on a shaky wicket.

I would certainly report any local schools requiring masks to the DfE and I would expect strong action to be taken against them, up to and including dismissal of the head.[/quote]
Don’t lecture me, especially not with such nonsense. My LEA have the backing of the local Public Health - which, I’ll think you’ll find, even your dickhead organisation acknowledge is legit.

No heads will be sacked for continuing to have a face masks in public areas policy. The D f E statement on face masks is a recommendation only. No head would be breaking law - merely following science and common sense.

I would love to know who you think would be replacing all of these sacked HTs?

@singsingbluesilver

If heads genuinely feel they cannot implement government mask policy for moral or other reasons, they should resign.

We cannot have a situation where individual heads with no scientific background or training are making irrational decisions based on factors like union pressure or emotions.

I am sure that the DfE will take strong action against heads and schools who cannot or will not toe the line on this issue.

The DfE don’t take strong action - they start procedures then realise that actually, the headteachers know what they are doing and follow their actions instead. Sadly, thousands of people die whilst the DfE process that they are wrong.