Masks all day in school

[ihearttc]

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.

That's great @itsgettingweird - unfortunately the schools round here though ofsted rated good or outstanding are actually shite, uncaring places. It's disingenuous to say a teenager can walk into any secondary and have a grown up conversation about masks for instance, when I'd dare to say, most, probably cannot.

Trust the hyperbole was not your comment on your own dc's school, it was this:
Unfortunately it's the same at most secondaries as they'll all aiming to be "the best" which unfortunately doesn't include giving a shit about the students, only how they appear to everyone else
Having knowledge of "most" secondaries must mean you're very busy, or exaggerating.

@Mistressiggi

Trust the hyperbole was not your comment on your own dc's school, it was this: Unfortunately it's the same at most secondaries as they'll all aiming to be "the best" which unfortunately doesn't include giving a shit about the students, only how they appear to everyone else Having knowledge of "most" secondaries must mean you're very busy, or exaggerating.

Oh ffs whatever. All secondaries are great all teachers are heroes

...and there goes another one

@Mistressiggi

...and there goes another one

YABU, he’s what 15/16? Not 5 - he’ll be just fine wearing a mask

Would you object to him wearing a mask when out shopping with friends? If it were me I would just be thankful that your sons school are actually following the guidance

@Callingallskeletons

He is nearly 16. Of course I don’t object to him wearing one when he is out shopping with friends. But he isn’t wearing one for 6 hours at a time then and can take it off going out of shops etc. Plus going shopping isn’t the same as trying to concentrate in a classroom. I also wouldn’t object if the school was actually following government guidance but they are not. Not a precious snowflake parent at all but I don’t think it’s necessary to wear a mask for 6 hours a day when the risk is minimal. I wouldn’t want to do that so why would I expect my child to do it?

[quote ihearttc]@MarshaBradyo

Thank you! I’m honestly not that sort of person who complains and I’m certainly not a “keyboard warrior” trying to make HT’s lives difficult. I’m simply trying to find out why they are doing something so different to the majority of schools in the U.K. when the actual guidance says otherwise.[/quote]
Because it's very likely that the guidance will change at any given time.

A few weeks ago we didn't have to wear masks in shops and now we do.

Remember the staff will be trying to deal with 30 teenagers from the front of a room.

Much harder to cajole Johnny on row 6 that he needs to put his mask on when he's whining "but Miss I didn't have to yesterday and my mam says I don't have to " than to expect it across the school from day 1.

My guess is also that the Head knows that 1 or more of the staff is very vulnerable but doesn't want to say 'you only have to wear a mask in Miss X and Mr Y classes'

I don’t think that the possibility of changing guidance means it should not be adhered to.

State schools are hot on following this stuff even if individuals think otherwise.

You could get all sorts of combinations of what’s in and out if not.

OP
Where in the country are you? I had an email today re wearing them also in class. I was surprised as I work in a school as well and at present its only students in our school that have to wear them on school transport.

@justaweeone

I’m in Norfolk (just!)

Think it might be the same school! Yep only one hour meeting (Y12). Luckily my Ds has been self driven and has had plenty of work set. But I'm very surprised re the masks and really feel for the staff as well.

@justaweeone

Does the HT look like someone from a Disney film? (Although that just might be me that thinks that!!)

Regarding vaccinating a child in my county the school aren't even involved with the permission now, parents/carers give their permission direct to the school vaccination team.

Not sure as never seen the Head. But to be fair he only went there for sixth form and overall even with this has had a really positive experience there. However had he been there in KS3/4 and the very poor school communication I think I would view it differently.

That hats a bit harsh, wearing it all day!! Even here in Scotland , Queen Nicol is only making them wear them in corridors and communal inside places. Not in class. Or in the playground.

If it’s the same school then yes communication (and Covid provision) has been appalling. Our HT looks like Edna from The Incredibles.

OP
Think it is the same school. I was very surprised re the use of masks.
But who knows how it will all change for schools in the next few weeks.
Feel quite sick about the next half term, our Senior leadership team are reeling( and have worked so hard to plan and plan again and again) and staff just who want the best outcome for our students.

I work in a school as well (although with EYFS and KS1) and I know we aren’t expected to wear masks so was very surprised when the email came through this morning, wasn’t what I was expecting at all!

I wonder if it is due to a recent outbreak 15 miles away.

Op, I really don't want to sound like doom monger, but I think that we should all prepare for the worse.

@justaweeone

Yes that crossed my mind as well but then maybe they should say that on the email. The levels here are so incredibly low that it really doesn’t make sense. DS wants to do an incredibly bizarre combination on A levels so I just hope he does well enough this year to be able to do them. How has your son found 6th form?

I have a dc going into yr11 too. I’m intrigued what A levels does he want to do? (If you can say)

@MarshaBradyo

He wants to do Physics, Media Studies and PE which don’t usually go together! He has very specific reasons for wanting to do them but I’m very doubtful the timetabling will work to enable him to do that.

Interesting combo!

Ds is fixated on sciences atm