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Secondary education

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Original poster

Masks all day in school

260 replies

ihearttc · 31/08/2020 12:25

Furious just about sums up how I feel at the moment. Just had an email from DS1’s school (he is going into Y11) saying they will be required to wear masks all day long in school from the minute they get inside the school gates to when they leave. They are allowed to take them off to eat lunch but will need to be put back on immediately. Before I fire off an email to the school, just wondered how I stand legally with refusing to give permission for him to wear one all day long? It’s completely against the DofE guidance which states corridors and transitions only.
We live rurally and are in a very very low Covid area for what’s its worth, no where near areas on local lockdown.

OP posts:
justaweeone · 31/08/2020 19:18

It's been a really positive experience for him
He had to work hard for half decent grades at GCSE
Chose a double ward in BTEC and an A level subject. He went to an 11-16 High so had to move. But it's been a really welcoming sixth form community and he has made some really lovely friends.

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 19:19

@MarshaBradyo

He loves those subjects and has 2 very different career aspirations which sort of fit round those subjects. If he really couldn’t do them he would probably drop PE for Maths or Biology. He either wants to be a pilot or a Sports Journalist.

OP posts:
Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 19:20

@justaweeone

Did he go to OB?

DS plays football for a team in that area and some of them are coming this way for 6th Form.

OP posts:
justaweeone · 31/08/2020 19:20

That combo is fine as it gives him the opportunity to explore lots of pathways but as you say the timetabling blocks might be an issue. Has he any idea of what future pathway post 18?

MarshaBradyo · 31/08/2020 19:21

Brilliant. It’s an exciting phase. I went to school in Aus so find it all new as we had a different system. But I feel happy they get to focus on what they enjoy at A level.

MarshaBradyo · 31/08/2020 19:22

Apart from the annoying pandemic. But other than that it’s a good time.

justaweeone · 31/08/2020 19:23

He did OP and yes I believe there are quite a few coming this year (more than last year)

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 19:24

@justaweeone

He either wants to do pilot training or go to university to do a Sports Journalism degree (or maybe a PE teacher!!)

OP posts:
whattodo2019 · 31/08/2020 19:25

Of mask wearing allowed our children to get back and stay back at school I'm all for it and so are my Children.

Aragog · 31/08/2020 19:27

His school set revision work of stuff they had already learnt

You mean they followed the Government guidelines?

MarshaBradyo · 31/08/2020 19:31

Aragog out of interest what is the plan for the content missed?

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 19:31

@Aragog

I’m sure the government guidelines suggested that they would actually be taught rather than basically left to their own devices. It’s all very well going over stuff they have already learnt but when other schools are teaching new content (whether they are supposed to or not) it’s not exactly a level playing field.

OP posts:
NotDonna · 31/08/2020 19:58

@ineedaholidaynow

Because he hasn't lost 6 months of teaching time from March to September. How many pupils go to school from mid July to August (in England). How many schools provide so much school work for summer holidays that children will need to study 8.30 to 3.30 every weekday in the holidays?
I get your POV but we all know how much kids regress after a 6 week summer holiday. We have to appreciate the effect of a 6 month break. Where that has happened. Or a 4 month break. Or whatever length. It’s certainly less than ideal. However, what that has to do with mask wearing is irrelevant.
justaweeone · 31/08/2020 20:14

I think one of the points is that parents/ carers are worried and that some things just 'tip you over the edge'
OP one of the things I suggest is that students look at uni prospectuses and work back to a levels , if you see what I mean for choices to make
Also does his year have access to unifrog?
Sorry might not be worded best but cooking supperSmile

Murmurur · 31/08/2020 20:33

I think it's a bit early to be going in complaining. He hasn't even tried it yet.

My son's been wearing a mask 4 hours a day all through the summer and he's been absolutely fine, as have the 5 and 6 year olds at his club. My son is autistic and very sensitive round his mouth, so it's harder for him than most yet he's just got on with it. I ran the elastic behind his head rather than just over his ears, to reduce irritation. He finds the mask much less of a problem than hand sanitizer.

I appreciate that it will be harder for some kids and unbearable for a few, but I think you are doing your son a disservice by turning this into an issue when he is fine to just crack on. It's just part of the uniform for now.

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 20:40

@Murmurur

As I have said several times throughout the thread, the issue is not with my son. He is perfectly willing to wear a mask, he’s not happy about it but will obviously comply. I’m simply asking the school why they are choosing to make this mandatory when other schools aren’t?

OP posts:
tootiredtothinkofanewname · 31/08/2020 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Meredusoleil · 31/08/2020 20:53

As a teacher and parent myself, I totally get where you're coming from OP. I wouldn't be happy with this either tbh. Thankfully, dd1's new secondary school have said masks are optional but strongly suggested in the corridors! I told her to play it by ear without for the first few days and see how she feels afterwards 👍

Neither dd2's junior school nor my primary school are saying anyone has to wear masks. I would be happy to wear a visor/face shield instead though 🤔

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 20:54

@tootiredtothinkofanewname

I know. But they weren’t even taught or given guidance on that either. They were basically left to do it all themselves. Would you be happy for your child in the middle of their GCSE’s to have no teacher input at all?? Maybe I’m a bad person for wanting sort of education and some explanation as to why they are now doing something against government guidelines.

No matter how self motivated a teenager is, it’s hard going to maintain that level of motivation since March with no support or face to face contact with teachers.

OP posts:
Changeagain1 · 31/08/2020 20:57

It’s hard as my daughter is already anxious about whether they have to wear one, she hates the thought of all day in one and steamed glasses.
:( so far the school has said still their choice. She really doesn’t want to wear one all day.

I noticed that a lot of teenagers are very self conscious about wearing one , I think unless it’s mandatory they won’t wear one at al sadly.

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 20:58

@justaweeone

Thank you, that’s really helpful. Not sure about uniform but will investigate.

OP posts:
MrsSpenserGregson · 31/08/2020 21:02

My DC’s secondary school (state comp) is also making mask wearing mandatory in all indoor areas of school, including classrooms. Just had the email this evening.

Waiting to hear what will happen in the school DH and I work in (private secondary). Head teacher issued guidance last week saying masks in corridors and school buses only, but that was before the DfE’s Friday night surprise....

Brightdays2020 · 31/08/2020 21:49

[quote ihearttc]@Murmurur

As I have said several times throughout the thread, the issue is not with my son. He is perfectly willing to wear a mask, he’s not happy about it but will obviously comply. I’m simply asking the school why they are choosing to make this mandatory when other schools aren’t?[/quote]
OP one can assume then that you believe all those other schools not making it mandatory are right hence your school is wrong and even infuriating. Based on what evidence if I may ask? We are in a pandemic that not even a single person in the world can claim they have the confidence of really knowing about it and how to deal with it. Probably worth erring on the safe side. Unless there are robust evidences about the negative contribution to infection from mask wearing.
I wish our school (primary) could have such a clear policy or better still the government would make it clear and consistent.

Original poster
ihearttc · 31/08/2020 21:58

@Brightdays2020

I work in a school (I’m a TA) and we are not wearing face masks.If the evidence from the government pointed to mask wearing all day then all schools would be implementing it. But as it stands at the moment, it’s only advised in corridors and transition areas so therefore the vast majority of schools are following this guidance. DS1’s school isn’t. Maybe they are right and all the other schools and government are wrong. Maybe tomorrow we will get more guidance saying all schools must wear them, who knows! There clearly aren’t negative statistics on the wearing of masks in schools as most schools in the U.K. aren’t implementing that so there wouldn’t be any data to go on. But I as a parent feel that it is wrong to make them sit in hot, sweaty masks all day long whilst trying to work. It’s hard enough wearing them to go shopping let along for 6 hours straight.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 31/08/2020 22:19

@Murmurur

I think it's a bit early to be going in complaining. He hasn't even tried it yet.

My son's been wearing a mask 4 hours a day all through the summer and he's been absolutely fine, as have the 5 and 6 year olds at his club. My son is autistic and very sensitive round his mouth, so it's harder for him than most yet he's just got on with it. I ran the elastic behind his head rather than just over his ears, to reduce irritation. He finds the mask much less of a problem than hand sanitizer.

I appreciate that it will be harder for some kids and unbearable for a few, but I think you are doing your son a disservice by turning this into an issue when he is fine to just crack on. It's just part of the uniform for now.

My ds is autistic.

He really struggles with smells. Some of the Sanitisers in shops make him physically gag!

Superdrug do a 70% one in a large bottle and have 2 for £10 atm. It seems to be very unscented and also quick drying.

Mh ds has found that one the most bearable.

We just brought a small bottle to recant it into.