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Original poster

Schools banned from requiring masks unless Zahawi says otherwise

121 replies

RocketFire7 · 21/01/2022 08:13

Interesting news this morning that Nadhim Zahawi has banned schools or local public health chiefs from requiring masks without his personal approval.

Personally I think this is good news as there was a concern that individual headteachers may cause issues for political reasons.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/17385033/plan-to-stop-kids-being-back-into-masks/

OP posts:
Dghgcotcitc · 21/01/2022 09:20

Our school started in September 2020 and never stopped, be surprised if this makes a difference the other bits of uniform are not the business of Secretary of State!

rainrainraincamedowndowndown · 21/01/2022 09:22

Is it just me, I feel like England started to resemble certain states in US, that are going against safety measures for political gain?

herecomesthsun · 21/01/2022 09:22

Well, the government seem to be basing their decision-making on saving Johnson as Prime Minister and placating Us For Them.

I don't trust them one bit on this.

Why not let heads and teachers take responsibility for the safety of their pupils.

VikingVolva · 21/01/2022 09:23

It's quite a large number of heads (according to the newspaper who put this on the front page) and the reason most widely cited is local numbers.

No sign of a co-ordinated campaign - just as there wasn't co-ordination between schools which wanted to do more than the legally required minimum earlier in the pandemic.

I think the imposition of close management from the centre is highly detrimental. If HTs are not trusted to act in best interests of their pupils, they should not be in post.

I simply do not believe that there are that many inadequate HTs.

VikingVolva · 21/01/2022 09:24

@rainrainraincamedowndowndown

Is it just me, I feel like England started to resemble certain states in US, that are going against safety measures for political gain?
Agree, and it's shit to see it so clearly
TinaYouFatLard · 21/01/2022 09:26

Good. Children should not be wearing the damn things. One of my children’s senior schools refused to impose them at the beginning of term. I wanted to find the Headmaster and hug him.

carrythecan · 21/01/2022 09:27

@herecomesthsun

Maybe the headteachers are in areas of high prevalence and are indicating their knowledge of science.
What science? There is no science that shows that children wearing cloth masks, that they stuff in and out of their bags and pockets, do anything to stop the spread of the virus.
JollyAndBright · 21/01/2022 09:27

My sons secondary school have sent out an email this morning saying masks will still be required at all times on school site unless students are in the designated eating/drinking areas of the school.

I think this is a good thing,
Numbers at the school have been low so they are obviously making a difference.

mrshoho · 21/01/2022 09:29

It seems like the government have crunched the infection and death numbers and are satisfied that the NHS can scrape by coping and providing a service of sorts. So we are to let it spread. Who cares that schools and health and social services have to deal with the continuing disruption?

Scarby9 · 21/01/2022 09:30

We have kept masks in communal indoor areas. Overall case numbers may be dropping, and may have dropped hugely down south, but they are the highest they have ever been up here round us in the north. When we were all directed into masks, London's cases were lower than ours are now.

Dghgcotcitc · 21/01/2022 09:31

I don’t think it is local numbers it’s individual heads philosophy. Ours is pro mask so have had them throughout when numbers have ranged from amongst the highest to amongst the lowest (currently actually towards the bottom although we were hit very badly pre Christmas). Others seem to have never had them. I am not bothered either way re masks (more bothered that they have banned extra curricular activities again to be honest!). But I think masks in schools reflect masks in society some people believe in them as the single biggest measure that we should have, some hate them. You will have headteachers from both groups but I don’t think either is that based in science to honest it feels like more of a political position on both sides!

WeatherwaxOn · 21/01/2022 09:32

Schools should be allowed to make their own decisions based on infection rates, pupil and staff wellbeing and other relevant/local issues.

Seems to me that the gov have just decided that we can all be like them and take no responsibility for anything.

beentoldcomputersaysno · 21/01/2022 09:32

It seems the only person playing politics here is Zahawi.

sashagabadon · 21/01/2022 09:33

All those arguing Heads should have ultimate control, do you think the same for everything that happens in a school or just things you agree with. Counter argument, what if a Head was covid denier and refused to mandate masks at all. Possible scenario.
Would you then want the government to intervene? Or still happy with your trust the Heads , they know their school best etc.
I always do the reverse position to see where I am on any issue and if I wouldn’t like it one way, I shouldn’t like it the other way either.

HariboMaroon · 21/01/2022 09:35

Good, does my sons head in with his glasses. Waste of time anyway half the time

toomuchlaundry · 21/01/2022 09:37

DS has no problem learning in a mask. Also teachers if they are at the front of the class don’t have to wear masks.

Iggly · 21/01/2022 09:38

[quote RocketFire7]Interesting news this morning that Nadhim Zahawi has banned schools or local public health chiefs from requiring masks without his personal approval.

Personally I think this is good news as there was a concern that individual headteachers may cause issues for political reasons.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/17385033/plan-to-stop-kids-being-back-into-masks/[/quote]
This is disgusting.

The Tories are such fucking nannies. Let public Health directors do their jobs.

VikingVolva · 21/01/2022 09:38

@sashagabadon

All those arguing Heads should have ultimate control, do you think the same for everything that happens in a school or just things you agree with. Counter argument, what if a Head was covid denier and refused to mandate masks at all. Possible scenario. Would you then want the government to intervene? Or still happy with your trust the Heads , they know their school best etc. I always do the reverse position to see where I am on any issue and if I wouldn’t like it one way, I shouldn’t like it the other way either.
When a national mask mandate was in force, then yes I wouid expect all schools to follow it.

When it is not, then I expect schools to make their own decisions.

If the government is banning masks in schools, then it needs to own that explicitly.

If it wants to give these in leadership positions of trust the ability to lead, then there should be no interference other than when legal requirements are breached

herecomesthsun · 21/01/2022 09:38

It doesn't make sense to discontinue the few protective measures in schools at this point.

Heads should be able to advise regarding increased safety measures as they have responsibility for the health of their pupils (and staff)

Iggly · 21/01/2022 09:39

@sashagabadon

All those arguing Heads should have ultimate control, do you think the same for everything that happens in a school or just things you agree with. Counter argument, what if a Head was covid denier and refused to mandate masks at all. Possible scenario. Would you then want the government to intervene? Or still happy with your trust the Heads , they know their school best etc. I always do the reverse position to see where I am on any issue and if I wouldn’t like it one way, I shouldn’t like it the other way either.
Why should he override the advice of qualified Public Health Directors? Who are actually trained in public health matters?
SmashingBIouse · 21/01/2022 09:43

It should be at the discretion of each school, depending on cases and circumstances.

I have a teacher in my household and their school currently has eight teachers and countless students off with covid. Clearly it's rife there. At the moment masks would seem sensible. When the outbreak is past, perhaps not. But for now, particularly as several teachers and students are CV or CEV, it should be entirely up to the school to make that decision.

toomuchlaundry · 21/01/2022 09:43

Wonder when the last time he spent a whole day in a school and actually understands what schools are going through

RoseAndRose · 21/01/2022 09:44

Why should he override the advice of qualified Public Health Directors? Who are actually trained in public health matters?

A bit like Gav back in December 2020, you mean?

Masks in enclosed public spaces are widely recommended, so the public health advice on their use is there

sashagabadon · 21/01/2022 09:46

But individuals can now decide. Masks aren’t being “banned” Hmm
Any child or teacher can still wear one if they want and they are still needed in communal corridors.
They are just not mandated in classrooms. It’s a good position imo and if Heads feel the evidence in their areas is that infection still high they can seek permission to continue the mandate. Utterly reasonable

theemperorhasnoclothes · 21/01/2022 09:47

Well, this goes against scientific advice.

But even if it didn't - the authoritarian stance of this government is so worrying. They're dictating to headteachers - who will know the circumstances of their children and what they need to do for safeguarding. In some cases (where outbreaks happening and vulnerable children in school) this will go against risk assessments and safeguarding. But fuck that, do as the dictator tells you.

All the time while they're doing whatever they want.