Secondary students in Scotland will have to wear face coverings in school corridors and communal areas from Monday.
The new guidance on face coverings will also apply to pupils aged five and over travelling by bus, which education secretary John Swinney said is an aspect that takes it further than recent advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Mr Swinney revealed details in a BBC Radio Scotland interview this morning ahead of an official announcement.
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Mr Swinney said that, from 31 August, students aged 12 and over “should be habitually wearing face coverings when they’re moving around schools and corridors, and in communal areas, where it is difficult to deliver the physical distancing which is an inherent part of the guidance that the [Covid-19] Education Recovery Group has put in place after widespread consultation and dialogue”.
He said that the advice also applied to “school transport, in line with the [general] guidance on public transport, [where] young people should be wearing face coverings as well”. Later, a Scottish government media release stated that face coverings should be worn from Monday “on dedicated school transport by all children aged five and over, bringing it into line with guidance for public transport”.
When asked how this the wearing of face coverings would be enforced, Mr Swinney said: “This is not going to be mandatory guidance - we are recommending this is what should be done, and we will encourage schools to pursue that as part of the work to maintain safety within schools.”
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He stressed that there will be exemptions, “because the wearing of face coverings is not suitable for all individuals”.
However, when asked if a headteacher could decide not to introduce the new measures on face coverings, Mr Swinney said: “No. The guidance is here to be applied in all secondary schools, including special schools and grant-aided schools. My point is about exemptions for individuals because of the particular issues that they will face, and the wearing of face coverings.
“So, this is guidance for the whole of the secondary sector, special school sector and the grant-aided schools in Scotland, but there is, of course, the flexibility to respect the circumstances of each individual who [is] exempt for health or other reasons.”
When asked what he meant by saying the guidance was not mandatory, Mr Swinney replied that “when you use words like mandatory, it means that, for example, you could say that, ultimately, a young person could be excluded from school because they’re not wearing a face covering.
“Well, I don’t think that’s appropriate in this guidance and that will be explicit within the guidance that we put out - that a young person is not to be excluded for that reason, but it’s obligatory guidance on all secondary schools, special schools, and grant-aided schools.”
Should pupils wear masks in schools?
Listen to Jo Bisset from parent group @UsForThemScotl1 and @EISUnion’s Larry Flanagan discuss the issues for pupils and teachers. ?
? Listen via @BBCSounds https://t.co/Iq4on1ub5f pic.twitter.com/ypKklMhZBg
- BBC Radio 5 Live (@bbc5live) August 25, 2020
First minister Nicola Sturgeon indicated yesterday that there would be a change in policy over face coverings in schools.
Afterwards, EIS union general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The EIS continues to believe that effective physical distancing is the best means of reducing the risk of Covid-19 spread in schools. We are continuing to press the Scottish government for more staff and smaller classes to achieve this.
“We note the WHO advice on face coverings for those aged 12 and over, where one-metre distancing cannot be maintained. In situations where physical distancing is difficult, for example in busy corridors when pupils are moving between classes, use of face coverings becomes more important and we welcome the current Scottish government consultation on this issue.”
.@NicolaSturgeon says staff and pupils in Scotland’s secondary schools may be asked to wear face coverings when they are moving around the school, with the government currently consulting on the issue with teachers and councils.
Latest - https://t.co/SCIBZcfHBK pic.twitter.com/7UHWoA87Ed
- BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) August 24, 2020
Eileen Prior, executive director of parents’ organisation Connect, said many parents, young people and staff would be “reassured” by John Swinney’s statement on face coverings today.
She added: “However, it is really, really important that young people are supported in using face masks to make them as effective a barrier as possible.
“Guidance about using masks needs to be agreed in school communities with pupils, parents and staff so everyone is clear what is expected. This should include information and support for young people who can’t wear masks for health reasons. Masks or funding should be provided for families who cannot afford masks for their children. Parents and young people will need consistent information about wearing, storing and washing masks, along with the crucial hygiene practices around them.
“We know how concerned many young people are about the environment and we hope local authorities and schools will respect this by implementing procedures that are as eco-friendly as possible, too.”
