Colleges in Wales have agreed that they will make the wearing of face coverings mandatory in communal college areas where risk assessment indicate they are needed.

The leaders of the 13 member institutions of ColegauCymru have said they believe a “clear and unequivocal decision” is the best possible way forward, removing any doubt in the minds of learners and staff.

Teaching and learning in colleges takes place across a wide range of settings, and often with specific personal protection equipment already required to meet industry standards, and so the colleges said they would provide advice and assistance to staff and learners on the selection and use of an appropriate face-covering alongside other measures.

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Keeping responses under review

ColegauCymru added specific measures and control mechanisms would also be put in place for activities taking place outside of FE managed premises, and college leadership teams would keep their individual responses under review as the term unfolded.

Earlier this week, the Department for Education announced face coverings should be worn in communal areas in colleges in coronavirus lockdown areas in England, while that decision is up to the discretion of college leaders at other institutions. And while face coverings will have to be worn in secondary school corridors in Scotland from Monday, that rule does not currently apply to colleges. 

ColegauCymru chief executive Iestyn Davies said: “We appreciate that there are commonly acknowledged reasons not to use face masks or other face coverings, such as health concerns. Colleges will apply a reasonable and proportionate response and will take a balanced approach to enforcement. However, the decision to require their use provides clarity for staff and learners.”

He added: “The ambiguity surrounding the use of face coverings has and continues to cause confusion. The FE sector has come together to remove uncertainty and provide clarity in order to reassure learners, parents or carers and their staff alike.”