Schools have been told to reintroduce masks in communal areas for staff and pupils in Year Seven and above because of concerns over the Omicron variant of Covid.
The new recommendation came in an email sent out to heads today following a national government press conference about the new variant on Saturday.
The department said the recommendation applies to all schools from tomorrow.
Updated schools guidance for Omicron Covid variant
The DfE email says: “Face coverings should be worn in communal areas in all settings by staff, visitors and pupils or students in year 7 and above, unless they are exempt.
“Pupils or students (in year 7 or above) should continue to wear face coverings on public and dedicated school transport, unless they are exempt. ”
The email adds that the department had discussed this update with Association of School and College Leaders, NAHT school leaders’ union and the Confederation of School Trusts and decided that it would be “helpful to issue today rather than wait until Monday”.
It was unclear from the email to heads when the recommendation comes into effect but a subsequent DfE statement said it is asking schools to wear face coverings in communal areas from tomorrow.
Isolation for Omicron variant
The DfE email also tells schools that current guidance on contact tracing and isolation remains in place. But adds that in addition to these, any suspected or confirmed close contacts of those with the Omicron variant will be asked to isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status or age.
The news comes as the government announced that mandatory mask-wearing will return to shops and public transport on Tuesday.
Health secretary Sajid Javid announced this as a third case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus was detected in the UK.
In a statement issued tonight education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “The news of a new variant - the so called Omicron variant will have understandably caused concern for people across the country, including our teachers, wider education and childcare staff, parents, pupils and students.
“We are already taking targeted and proportionate action as a precaution while we find out more information about the new variant.
“As we do so, we will continue to prioritise children’s and young people’s education and wellbeing, making sure education and childcare settings are as safe as possible and children continue to benefit from classroom teaching.
“We are working with education and childcare settings to enhance safety measures where needed, including introducing isolation for 10 days for close contacts of suspected Omicron cases.”
Red list for foreign travel
The DfE email also advised schools to consider whether or not to go ahead with international visits.
It adds: “Individuals arriving in England from red list countries must follow the red list rules.
“South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe moved onto the red list at 12pm Friday 26 November.
“Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia were added to the red list 4am Sunday 28 November.
“Schools, out of school settings and colleges will want to consider whether to go ahead with planned international educational visits at this time, recognising the risk of disruption to education resulting from the need to isolate and test on arrival back into the UK.”
Tes revealed on Friday that the government is asking secondary schools to carry out on site testing of pupils in January at the start of the new term to combat the spread of Covid and has given them less than three days notice to order the kits they need.
More support needed for Covid response in schools
Reacting to today’s update, Geoff Barton, general secretary of ASCL, said: “We support these measures as a sensible response to the risks posed by the Omicron variant of Covid-19. This worrying situation, however, emphasises the need for better support from the government for the education sector.”
He added that the Omicron variant risked worsening the absences in schools.
“It is therefore imperative that the government provides workforce funding to schools and colleges to help with the cost of supply cover for absent staff,” he said.
Prime minister Boris Johnson announced broad new measures in response to the Omicron variant in a press conference yesterday. You can watch below.
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