Masks in classrooms secondary

[Hummmmming]

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/01/schools-in-england-told-wear-masks-in-class-as-fears-mount-of-omicron-surge?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Until the 26th of January

Can anyone find an official announcement, there doesn't seem to be one anywhere?
Not that I don't believe the article. It's in other Sundays too.

Meh, they've had to wear them for months in Scotland. Was supposed to be up until the October break last year but was extended and still not been ended

They know what’s coming.

Unsurprising but thoroughly depressing.

My subjects cannot be taught or learned effectively if masks are being worn.

Really don't want to go back to this. But it's better than not going back at all so hey ho - onwards and upwards

Kids in wales have been doing this for a while. They're coping just fine.

Well, I'm very keen for schools to stay open, so I think this is a good thing. Anything that helps tbh.

Kids at niece's secondary school are being made to take LFTs at school, i.e. overseen by the school, not just results accepted on trust, before the start of this term.

@AlexaShutUp

Well, I'm very keen for schools to stay open, so I think this is a good thing. Anything that helps tbh.

Well yes. But it doesn't help primary schools, where none of the children are vaccinated at all. So there may very well be closures there.

On the Telegraph website too.

Kids at niece's secondary school are being made to take LFTs at school, i.e. overseen by the school, not just results accepted on trust, before the start of this term.

They have done that after every school holidays since they went back to school rather than homeschooling.

It is frustrating that the government spend so long dithering before making decisions, but this was surely inevitable given what is coming down the tracks with Omicron.

Things must be looking bad if even the Telegraph is writing pieces like: www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/frightening-new-covid-data-shows-boris-johnsons-omicron-gamble/ - makes me cross after that paper has put pressure on not to have any mitigations!

Leaked to the papers. It is pure theatre. And the children who suffer.

Well, I'm very keen for schools to stay open, so I think this is a good thing. Anything that helps tbh

If it did help, I'd agree with you. I don't think it does though.

They wore them in Scottish secondaries last term and they had just a bad a time as we did.
Most kids don't wear them properly and don't wear them all day. They are together all day so there's no point wearing a mask for 5 hours then spending an hour sitting together at lunch, breathing over each other. They'll catch it at that point and the damage is done.
Omicron is so infectious that 'even a breath of infected air' (BBC) can pass it on. A fabric mask isn't going to prevent that. If they're all going to catch it anyway, why make the experience even more miserable with a mask.

@JanglyBeads

Can anyone find an official announcement, there doesn't seem to be one anywhere? Not that I don't believe the article. It's in other Sundays too.

Nadhim Zahawi announced it in The Telegraph today (behind a paywall).

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/01/01/owe-children-ensure-nothing-stops-proper-education/

And the children who suffer

I’ve taught in a mask to rooms full of kids also in masks. The kids are actually pretty resilient and were fine about it.

DS didn’t seem to suffer wearing a mask in the classroom. He also has to wear one in his part-time hospitality job

I know it's the right thing to do, but I feel so desperately sorry for DD(13) she has aspergers and her glasses getting steamed up/the sensation of the mask on her face etc causes her so much distress. She also won't use any exemption as she doesn't want to stand out . The whole thing is a bloody mess and I can't believe we're back here again.

@blameitonthecaffeine

Well, I'm very keen for schools to stay open, so I think this is a good thing. Anything that helps tbh

If it did help, I'd agree with you. I don't think it does though.

They wore them in Scottish secondaries last term and they had just a bad a time as we did.
Most kids don't wear them properly and don't wear them all day. They are together all day so there's no point wearing a mask for 5 hours then spending an hour sitting together at lunch, breathing over each other. They'll catch it at that point and the damage is done.
Omicron is so infectious that 'even a breath of infected air' (BBC) can pass it on. A fabric mask isn't going to prevent that. If they're all going to catch it anyway, why make the experience even more miserable with a mask.

You’re right, a fabric mask won’t stop it but it helps. That’s why European countries are insisting on FFP2 or higher for all, not even a surgical is acceptable and they accept far less exemptions than us and you have to prove it not just self declare.

Masks have been worms in Scottish secondaries since the Summer, don’t think it’s done much to halt the spread of delta or omicron.

When we had an outbreak in our school the official letter said a few cases (it was more than half the school).

@MumbleCrumbs

I know it's the right thing to do, but I feel so desperately sorry for DD(13) she has aspergers and her glasses getting steamed up/the sensation of the mask on her face etc causes her so much distress. She also won't use any exemption as she doesn't want to stand out . The whole thing is a bloody mess and I can't believe we're back here again.

Hi - sorry if you have already tried this but my youngest found that wearing a surgical mask under a fabric mask stopped the glasses steaming up issue.

Appreciate that may make the senstaion issue worse/different.

Good news.

I’ve found the FFP2 masks the best ones for wearing glasses, but may not be the most comfortable from a sensory point of view

Another option @MumbleCrumbs could be amadk with a nose wire if you haven't already tried this.
It is hard with SEN kids. My ASC dd would live in a mask if she could and hated when others didn't wear them. My Aspergers dd is too young to wear a mask.

@toomuchlaundry

I’ve found the FFP2 masks the best ones for wearing glasses, but may not be the most comfortable from a sensory point of view

They may not be bad actually as they stand away from the mouth much more?

I guess it is a lot of trial and error for each individual.

It would be interesting to see some data on the impact of masks in Scottish schools. Anecdotally, covid ripped through dd's year group in school and she and most of her friends caught it. Same age nephew in Scotland didn't catch it when a couple of his friends tested positive, and neither did many of his other friends. Of course, the plural of anecdote isn't data etc etc, but I'm yet to be persuaded that masks have no impact whatsoever. I do think the weird halfway house of wearing them in corridors but not in classrooms is pretty pointless.

According to dd, it isn't a big deal for the kids themselves. There will be a few who will struggle with it, of course, but the vast majority are probably more than capable of adapting.

DD really doesn't want to do online school again, so even if masks only make a little difference, I think she'd gladly wear one. I agree that there is a bigger problem in primary schools where none of the kids will have been vaccinated.