Pupils in the north-east of England told to carry on wearing face masks

14 May 2021, 23:14 | Updated: 14 May 2021, 23:35

Secondary school pupils in parts of the north of England are being told to carry on wearing face masks
Secondary school pupils in parts of the north of England are being told to carry on wearing face masks. Picture: PA

By Patrick Grafton-Green

Secondary school pupils in parts of the north of England are being told to carry on wearing face masks in the classroom next week.

Secondary schools and colleges across Lancashire are being advised by directors of public health to keep face masks in class until June 21 due to the spread of the Indian variant.

Bolton and Bury councils are asking secondary schools and colleges to keep face coverings in place until further notice.

READ MORE: Over 50s to get fast-track second jab as England's unlocking continues

READ MORE: PM defends not closing UK's borders to India sooner

The advice comes after the Government confirmed that it will remove the face mask requirement for pupils in England from Monday as lockdown restrictions are eased.

A school leaders union' said it supported the schools which were planning to extend the use of face coverings among pupils, adding they are "best placed" to make the call.

MPs and parents have raised concerns about face masks in class disrupting pupils' learning and wellbeing since they were introduced in March, but unions and scientists have called for them to remain in class for longer to ensure pupils, staff, parents and the community are not put at risk of infection.

The Indian variant of coronavirus has been detected in Bolton, Greater Manchester, as well as in Blackburn, Lancashire, and Sefton in Merseyside, which have all seen rates rise.

'We are likely to face some hard choices' if Indian Covid is worse

The directors of public health from Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council are advising schools and colleges across the county to keep face masks in place until June 21.

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Lancashire County Council's director of public health, said: "This is a very tough recommendation to make at a time when the restrictions are set to ease nationally on Monday May 17.

"But the increase in prevalence of this variant in the North West means we need to take some prudent steps to help reduce its spread.

"Wearing face coverings in schools and colleges for a few weeks longer will help to contain this and ensure the variant doesn't take hold."

A letter from Bolton council to parents said it was "asking schools to retain the use of face coverings, as per the current arrangements, until further notice."

Bolton is the area with the highest rate of cases, with 553 new infections in the seven days to May 9.

The letter, from the council's children's services and public health directors, said: "There have been instances where young people attending school or college have contributed to the spread of the virus.

"We believe it would be irresponsible to wait until we have higher levels of the newer variants of Sars-CoV2 circulating before we act."

PM confirms Monday's roadmap stage will go ahead

A similar letter has been sent from Bury council to parents and the council said all secondary schools and colleges in the area are following the advice.

Julien Kramer, interim assistant director of education and inclusion at Bury council, wrote: "I am sure that you will understand the need for caution at this time."

Children at secondary schools in Selby, North Yorkshire, are also being advised to continue wearing masks beyond next week due to high transmission rates.

Sefton's public health team has also advised that masks should be worn in schools beyond Monday in areas which are currently experiencing outbreaks.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "We back schools in the decisions they make.

"They best know their context and how their parents, staff, and pupils feel about the issue of face masks and they are therefore best placed to make a call on how to respond to the Government's guidance.

"There is also provision in the Government guidance for local action committees to reintroduce the use of face masks for pupils on a temporary basis in response to localised outbreaks, including variants of concern, and for decisions to be made by local directors of public health."

A Government spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister has set out the measures needed to tackle the new variant of concern.

"In line with our plans published earlier this week to address variants of concern in education, we have also agreed with directors of Public Health that face coverings will remain in place in Blackburn with Darwen, Bolton, Lancashire and Sefton.

"We are continuing to work closely with local authorities in these areas."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

CANADA-G7-SUMMIT-DIPLOMACY

Trump leaves G7 summit early over Middle East tensions as he issues evacuation order for Tehran

Matthew Perry attends 'The Circle' screening during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 26, 2017 in New York City.

Doctor to plead guilty to supplying Friends star Matthew Perry with ketamine

The son of a woman who died while skydiving said she was "just trying something new" when her family lost her.

‘Caring’ mother-of-four who died while skydiving was ‘just trying something new’, son says

NHS 999 staff are quitting and suffering burnout caused by the "relentless pressure" of calls, according to new research.

NHS 999 staff quitting and suffering burnout due to ‘relentless pressure’ of calls, research finds

Using a mobile phone to use TikTok video sharing site

Patients who record NHS care for TikTok or Instagram causing workers unnecessary anxiety

Russ Cook

Gen-Z adults with a fitness regime ‘more likely to have a financial plan’

Daytime view of a busy Oxford Street

Sir Sadiq Khan to pedestrianise Oxford Street ‘as quickly as possible’

Low water levels at Baitings dam near Ripponden following a very dry spring

England faces ‘huge’ water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, officials warn

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court in Wales.

Driver handed 10-year sentence after ramming pedestrians, including teenager, with SUV in Airbnb row

Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid celebrates a goal.

Four people given suspended prison sentences for hate crimes after hanging effigy of Real Madrid star

Electricity prices in the UK are high because of the "insane" wholesale market, Parliament has been told.

UK electricity prices ‘way too high’ because of ‘insane’ wholesale market, Parliament told

Detectives have released CCTV footage of a man they wish to speak to following an attempted rape

Bid to trace man as police investigate attempted rape of woman in cinema

Exclusive
Jess Phillips on LBC

Victims deserve credit for grooming gangs national inquiry - not Elon Musk, says Labour minister

Israel attacked Iran's state broadcaster IRIB during a live broadcast.

Israel accused of 'war crime' after bombing Iran's state TV studio live on air and warning it would 'disappear'

The Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham, England, where Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will visit on Wednesday Aug. 7, 2024 following riots

Pregnant teenager facing jail term following role in Rotherham riots targeting migrant hotel

Hamilton started the race in fifth and looked to be on course for a positive 70 laps - before his Grand Prix was impacted in the initial stages.

Lewis Hamilton is left 'devastated' after hitting a furry animal at 100mph in F1's Canadian Grand Prix