Posted on Tuesday 11th Jan 2022
Secondary school pupils in England returned from the Christmas break this week to new advice – to wear face coverings in lessons and to take lateral flow tests at school before heading into classrooms.
These are recommendations and are not mandatory. There are no statistics yet that show how many pupils have been complying, but some parents and pupils have expressed concern that a number are choosing not to.
Some charities say they are worried about the effects on vulnerable students of this advice being ignored, but some parents say masks are causing problems for children's learning.
The government says schools "can decide how best to encourage" pupils to take tests and wear masks.
The Department for Education (DfE) stressed that pupils should not be "denied education" on the basis of whether or not they wear a mask.
It has previously said it is determined to keep schools open, despite more staff absences being expected.
Click here to read more.
Can't find what you are looking for?
Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.
Latest News
18/12/24Worry for staff and children as London council moves ahead with plans to close Kent special school
Staff at a residential special school in Kent, which is run by a London council, have voiced worries about plans to close the facility down. Wandsworth Council is moving forward with plans to shut down Bradstow School in Broadstairs due to escalating financial pressures.
17/12/24Schools given £740m to adapt buildings for Send pupils
The government has announced £740m of funding to increase the number of places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) in mainstream schools in England. ??The money, part of the £6.7bn of education spending announced in the Budget, will be targeted towards adapting school buildings to make them more accessible.
10/12/24Starmer wants 75% of children ‘school-ready’ by 2028
Target of three in four reception pupils at a 'good' level of development is one of six key 'milestones'
09/12/24Kent school where pupils feel 'safe and happy' named The Sunday Times 'best in the South East'
A Kent school has been named the best secondary school in the South East by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025. The highest-achieving primary and secondary schools across the UK have been ranked by the paper, which said its survey is "widely acknowledged as the most authoritative".
06/12/24Ofsted "alarmed" by absences and "flexi-schooling."
The “alarming” level of children missing school has become a “stubborn and damaging issue”, according to the chief inspector of Ofsted, England's schools regulator. Sir Martyn Oliver said he was also worried about a rise in "flexi-schooling", where parents educate their children at home for part of the week. It is not clear how many children are taught in this manner. The Department for Education (DfE) said the government was putting education "back at the forefront of national life". Ofsted's annual report said attendance issues had "deepened" since the pandemic.