New advice on face coverings in schools and colleges

The Government has announced new advice regarding the use of face coverings in schools, setting out the rules for educational institutions in Sidmouth and across the country.

In an announcement yesterday (August 26) the Government said it is not recommending that face coverings are necessary in education settings generally, because of the systems and controls that schools have in place to mitigate risk. But where schools and colleges are in areas where the transmission of the virus is high, additional precautionary measures are recommended, including the wearing of face coverings by adults and pupils.

In those areas where there is local intervention (ie in local lockdown), pupils aged 12 and above and school staff should wear face coverings when moving around, such as in corridors or communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

The Government believese it will not usually be necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, because of the protective measures in place in the classroom and because wearing them could inhibit teaching and learning.

It will be up to the schools and colleges in those areas of local restrictions to inform staff, pupils and parents of the requirement to use face coverings in those circumstances.

Not forgetting, some individuals are exempt from wearing face coverings, and those exemptions will apply in education settings.