It isn’t a surprise that teachers have been thrown another curve ball at short notice. The sad thing is that we’re getting used to it. 

But the most recent U-turn from the government foreshadows a monumental shift in the way students will be taught in school. A seemingly snap decision on wearing masks - which could have been made months ago - could have a huge impact on those who are in classrooms. 

It raises the question: do the people who make decisions actually have any understanding of what happens, or has been happening in schools?

What is more concerning for actual teachers is that, once again, leaders have been passed the hot potato, and are expected to make a decision for their context - with only a week to go before students return, I might add. 

Lack of support

The line in the guidance that reads: “Education leaders might decide to recommend the wearing of face coverings - for pupils and staff” exemplifies the lack of support that those who are expected to implement this new guidance have come to expect. The word “might” implies a degree of choice - but, when it comes to masks, making the decision locally is so much more difficult than it would be for the government to apply policy nationwide. 

School leaders once again are open to subjective criticism and general flak from teachers, students and staff - the last thing they need when reopening a school during a pandemic.  

The wearing of masks in schools has been a question from those of us on the ground since the start of the pandemic. It is clear from the evidence that the use of masks significantly reduces the risk of transmission between people (students and adults alike). But it is also slightly contradictory to the headlines that were boasting how safe it was to return to school published last week, which included no mention of masks… 

The most recent guidance on face masks doesn’t say that they must be worn, but what it does suggest is that there are times at which teacher and pupils should wear them at school. In turn, this creates a sense of fear and doubt for those in schools as to whether they should wear one or not - or, in fact, if their leaders have made the right decision. Again, the whole process undermines those who have been working throughout the pandemic. 

More uncertainty, vagueness and ambiguity

With a week to go until pupils return (and some schools already with pupils back) the prospect of more uncertainty, vagueness and ambiguity is something teachers could do without. 

Weeks have gone into preparing risk assessments and policies, as well as school sites for the return of all pupils. Organising sites and protocols has been no mean feat, and the announcement about face coverings has somewhat undermined a lot of the preparation and organisation that has gone into ensuring staff and students’ safety. 

Suddenly, the measures around social distancing and signage are overshadowed by the use of face masks. It isn’t that I’m against face masks - quite the opposite - it just seems that, once again, we have been thrown to the wolves. 

Is it safe to wear a face mask and then be closer than a metre to a student now? If so, the whole way in which we teach can, in fact, go back to how it was before, can’t it? If not, who will communicate the specifics around social distancing and masks, and which takes priority? 

The additional advice on washing hands before and after face masks are put on is equally unhelpful. Learning time will be nonexistent at this rate. 

Asking the question for months and months

Is the actual experience of students in the classroom considered before these announcements are made? It seems that the focus is on “getting students back in the classroom”, with very little mention of what they actually do while they are there.  

Those of us on the ground, working with children, know there are huge differences within our demographics. It is hugely difficult to digest comments such as, “It is reasonable to assume that staff and young people will now have access to face coverings due to their increasing use in wider society.” Yes, some students will have access to face masks, but a lot won’t. 

Those who are most vulnerable and those from disadvantaged backgrounds may only have access to disposable masks, and is it right to wear the same one day in day out? They are expensive, and the likelihood is that school leaders have not set thousands aside in their budgets for face masks. Why would they have? Until yesterday, the government was insisting that face coverings weren’t useful for those in school contexts. 

The use of face coverings in schools makes sense scientifically, and we have all been asking the question for months and months about whether they will be used in schools. Socially for students and professionally for teachers, it may create a challenge - but that isn’t what bothers us. 

What bothers us is the way in which responsibility is handed off and decisions are made with no regard for the actual implementation in real life. 

Adam Riches is an assistant principal and senior leader for teaching and learning, specialist leader in education and head of English. He tweets @TeachMrRiches