Secondary school pupils must wear face masks in lessons for 'weeks'
Secondary school pupils will be made to wear face masks in lessons for ‘weeks’ when they head back to classroom on March 8
- BREAKING: Secondary school pupils to wear masks in classrooms ‘for weeks’
- The new rules come as part of plans to safely reopen schools on March 8
- Boris Johnson made the announcement as part of his roadmap out of lockdown
Secondary pupils will have to wear masks in the classroom ‘for several weeks’ to allow schools to safely reopen from March 8.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the new rules as he sets out his roadmap out of lockdown today.
He said there is a ‘greater requirement’ for masks in secondary schools for a ‘limited period’ until they are back up and running.
The PM revealed his ‘roadmap’ in a statement to the Commons this afternoon promising a ‘cautious but irreversible’ easing of lockdown and calling it ‘a one way road to freedom’.
The first steps to freedom from lockdown will prioritise reopening schools and reuniting families, Boris Johnson said last night. On March 8, all pupils will return to the classroom as part of the first of four steps towards getting the country back on its feet.
Boris Johnson made the announcement as he unveils his roadmap out of the national lockdown
The first steps to freedom will prioritise getting children fully back into classrooms in a fortnight’s time, while people will also be able meet one friend or family member in the park for a coffee or a picnic from March 8.
The latest education developments in the pandemic came as:
- Teaching unions have demanded Boris Johnson scrap his plan to reopen all schools in England on March 8 in favour of a more cautious phased return to classrooms;
- Mr Zahawi said that the government was hoping this will be the last ‘severe’ coronavirus lockdown in England;
- Labour has insisted it supports schools reopening in full on March 8 despite opposition from teaching unions and Sir Keir Starmer saying there must be a considered approach.
The new rules on masks for secondary school pupils comes as the Government seeks to build up parents’ confidence that their children are safe to return to the classroom.
Mr Johnson tweeted this morning: ‘Our priority has always been getting children back into school which we know is crucial for their education and wellbeing. We’ll also be prioritising ways for people to reunite with loved ones safely.
‘Our decisions will be made on the latest data at every step, and we will be cautious about this approach so that we do not undo the progress we have achieved so far and the sacrifices each and every one of you has made to keep yourself and others safe.’
This afternoon he told the Commons that the threat from Covid ‘remains substantial’ with numbers in hospital only now falling below the peak of the first wave in April.
After speaking about the success of the vaccine roll out, he added: ‘It is a fact lifting lockdown will result in more cases, more hospitalisations and more deaths.’
As such, he promised a ‘cautious but irreversible’ easing of lockdown, calling it ‘a one way road to freedom’.
His statement confirmed that the tier system would be dropped with restrictions being eased in all areas across the UK at the same time.
Mr Johson called for a ‘data not dates’ approach, and said all the evidence showed that the classroom was the ‘best place for our children to be’.
He said: ‘I can tell the house that two weeks from today pupils and students in all schools and further education settings can safetly reuturn to face to face teaching.’7
This return will be supported by twice weekly testing for teachers and pupils.
Breakfast and after school clubs can also reopen, as well as sports clubs, with Mr Johnson saying this was essential to allow parents to return to work.
Further changes to the current restrictions will be reviewed during the Easter holidays on March 29.
Mr Johnson’s plans for easing lockdown have been bolstered by the latest data whihc shows Covid-19 infection rates have continued to drop, with 9,834 more cases reported – a fall of 10 per cent on last week – while the 215 new daily deaths brought Britain’s total up to 120,580
Meanwhile, the NASUWT teachers union today reiterated its call for teachers and other education staff to be given priority access to coronavirus vaccines.
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: ‘The NASUWT believes it is in the national interest for the government to prioritise teachers and education staff for access to vaccination.’
The National Education Union said in its proposed recovery plan that the return to schools should see numbers allowed on-site limited while there should also be increased use of face coverings.
It also agreed that masks should be worn by secondary school pupils in classrooms as well as in all other areas of the school.
Schools are set to return from March 8 for all pupils in all year groups in England – rather than a staggered approach.
Union bosses are instead urging Mr Johnson to follow the example of Scotland and Wales where the phased return of some young children to classrooms started this morning.
Senior secondary pupils will need to stick to two-metre social distancing within schools and on school buses under the rules on returning to school.
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