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What are the rules on face coverings in UK schools?

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Face coverings are to become mandatory for some secondary school pupils at the start of the new term after the Government announced its latest policy U-turn.

Boris Johnson caved into mounting pressure to review the use of masks in England’s schools, despite Downing Street’s repeated insistence that coverings in such places were unnecessary.

The decision was reached hours after the Scottish government confirmed that children over the age of 12 should wear masks when moving around school from next Monday.

As the four devolved nations announce their own rules, here’s what to expect in schools across the UK:

Face coverings should be worn by secondary pupils and staff in local lockdown areas of England, and will be at the discretion of secondary schools across the country, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed on Tuesday evening.

They will be compulsory for staff and pupils when moving around corridors and communal areas, the DfE said.

However, coverings will not need to be worn in classrooms, because other protective measures will already be in place and they might affect learning, it added.

They will not be recommended in schools more widely, the department said.

But schools will have the discretion to require them to be worn by staff and children in Year 7 and above in communal areas.

Full guidance has not yet been published, but is expected “shortly” the department said.

In a warning that advice could change again, the DfE said stricter guidance could be issued for schools nationally if the rate of transmission increases across the country.

– What are the rules in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Face coverings must be worn by staff and pupils when moving around secondary schools in Scotland from August 31, according to Holyrood’s Education Secretary.

John Swinney said that the rule will apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above, and all those at secondary school in communal areas, but not in classrooms.

Meanwhile, Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said a decision on school children wearing face coverings will be made on Wednesday, but current guidance says masks are not being recommended.

In Northern Ireland, post-primary pupils will be asked to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas, Stormont’s education minister said on Tuesday.

The official guidance comes into effect on August 31 when schools there return on a full-time basis.

– Why were they originally not recommended by Westminster?

Guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE) says that face coverings were not required in schools, as pupils and staff are mixing in consistent groups, known as “bubbles”.

It said that misuse may inadvertently increase the risk of transmission, while it could also have a negative effect on communication.

– Why the U-turn then?

The change follows World Health Organisation (WHO) advice that children aged over 12 should wear masks, the Government said.

Announcing the shift in advice, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Our priority is to get children back to school safely. At each stage we have listened to the latest medical and scientific advice.

“We have therefore decided to follow the World Health Organisation’s new advice. In local lockdown areas children in year 7 and above should wear face coverings in communal spaces.

“Outside of local lockdown areas face coverings won’t be required in schools, though schools will have the flexibility to introduce measures if they believe it is right in their specific circumstances."

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