Posted on Wednesday 12th May 2021
Face masks will no longer be required in secondary school classrooms in England after 17 May, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed.
Face coverings have been recommended since the return to school in March - but that will end as part of the phasing out of lockdown measures.
There have been concerns that masks obstruct communicating and learning.
But head teachers warned the decision to remove masks was "hard to reconcile" with the evidence on safety.
The prime minister's briefing also confirmed the return of students to university campuses in England from 17 May - although surveys suggest that in practice most students have already returned to their term-time addresses.
About half of students have been studying online since January - and they will be able to return to face-to-face teaching, although some courses might already have effectively stopped teaching by this stage of the university year.
Can't find what you are looking for?
Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.
Latest News
06/03/25Medway children offered secondary school places as the number who got their first choice revealed
A total of 96% of children were offered places at a secondary school of their choice in Medway
04/03/25Schools to trial social media blackout scheme
Three schools in Surrey are launching a pilot programme to restrict mobile phone usage in an attempt to improve pupils' wellbeing. The secondary schools, which are part of the GLF Schools trust, are to trial an app that blocks social media, messaging and other apps which they believe are "distracting" during school hours. GLF Schools said the expected benefits were more focus in the classroom, a calmer learning environment and improved student mental health.
25/02/25First Kent schools named in free breakfast club pilot
The first schools in Kent and Medway to offer free breakfast clubs for pupils as part of a government scheme have been revealed.
24/02/25Schoolchildren have swapped French for British Sign Language
Children in Castle Hill Community Primary School in Folkestone have swapped French lessons for British Sign Language (BSL)
19/02/25£2.5m SEN block at Leigh Academy Minster on Sheppey approved
Plans to convert a disused school block into a £2.5m facility for children with Special Educational Needs have been given the go-ahead.
News Archive