Being asked to wear mask throughout 11+ assessment

[surreymummy89894]

Hi - my DD is sitting a pretest at the weekend and we have just received an e-mail to let us know that the girls will be expected to wear a mask throughout the entire time they are on the school site. I understand that the school want to be "covid secure" but I am a bit concerned because DD wears glasses and she is unable to wear a mask without them steaming up? It's a time pressurised computer test so the last thing she needs is to keep taking off her glasses and wiping them. Most of the girls are 10 years old so are not used to wearing masks in any setting and part of me thinks that if the school was so concerned about Covid safety they should have reverted to the ISEB which could have been done at their own school. Can I ask whether or not the wearing of masks during 11+ or pretests is the norm at the moment (in which case I will shut up).....and it anyone has any top tips for ensuring glasses don't steam up to frequently.

Masks don't tend to steam up if you pull them up to the bridge of your nose and then put your glasses on securely over the top.

It's very uncomfortable for them. At least you know. My DS went for his 11+ mid October and they told us at the gate. Completely unexpected and he had to wear a mask far too big for him and was really uncomfortable.

Do they definitely have to wear them during the test itself? DS had his 11 plus last week, and had to wear a mask throughout but not during the test itself.
Thanks for the info about glasses Bramshott as I have been having this difficulty in shops!

I use hand made masks made of cotton with a wire hemmed into the top. The masks are larger than normal, covering the bridge of my nose almost to wear my glasses sit. It takes some fiddling around but if I mould the wire to the shape of my face and pinch it close to my nose, my glasses don't steam up at all. It does, however, get extremely warm and I would not be comfortable wearing it during an exam while I was nervous.

I'm very sorry for your daughter, that is a genuine disadvantage to her chances in the exam.

@foxesandsquirrels that's very true - at least they have given us a few days warning so we can experiment with some different masks and how to wear them.

@Bramshott thanks for the tip - we will give that a go!

Sounds like this is normal practice then!

It is really difficult.

We have tried and my son just won't wear his glasses which means he won't see and will be disadvantaged.

It is a real issue and I am not sure if you can speak to the school?

Can you child be sat somewhere apart for the rest and then wear a mask for the other activities?

@lovemincepies I did call the school but they aren’t willing to make any exceptions. I have a feeling that DD will decide not to wear her glasses - she is long sighted so she might get away with that as the duration of the test is only an hour.

Medical type masks are the best. Really bend the wire so it fits snugly over the nose and then wear it really high up under your eyes, so literally just under your lower lids.

No glasses steaming up!!!

I tried all sorts. You definitely need that wire bit though.

As a glasses wearer I agree with Zodlebud entirely. Sisposable mask with a nose wire snuggly around your nose and glasses high up.

My glasses-wearing 10 year old is well used to wearing a mask now (he wears one wherever I would wear one). He does find his glasses steam up a little bit, but normally when he's moving about and the mask slips. Teach your daughter to bend the wire really snugly down over her face (start from the middle of the nose and sort of smooth it down over the cheeks). Hopefully if she's sitting still it shouldn't slip too much. If the mask's slightly big then it also helps to cross the loops before they go over the ears - it gives a tighter fit.