A teaching union has suggested schools may have to close again if not enough students wear face masks – as millions of pupils return to their classrooms today.
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)’s chief, Geoff Barton, has warned that a wave of non-compliance from students over the Government’s face mask rules could create ‘ramifications’ for school insurance policies.
The union, which represents secondary school heads, is writing to parents who object to new masks rules, according to the Telegraph.
Students, who have been learning from home since December due to the Covid lockdown, are being told to wear masks anywhere indoors, including classrooms, where it is impossible for secondary students to keep two metres apart.
It comes as Boris Johnson yesterday batted away concerns around today’s school return – saying the real risk to children was in not going back to class.
The Prime Minister warned that youngsters remaining at home longer than necessary would suffer in the future.
Ahead of millions returning to their classrooms, Mr Johnson was asked about lingering fears over Covid infections.
Mr Williamson indicated that a ‘transformative’ reform of the entire academic year could be on the table in a review led by catch-up tsar Sir Kevan Collins
Innovations set to be phased in next year include longer school days and shorter holidays
But he replied: ‘You ask about the risk [of schools returning] – I think the risk is actually in not going back to school tomorrow given all the suffering, all the loss of learning we have seen.’
His comments came as Education Secretary Gavin Willamson proposed changes he likened to the sweeping reforms of the 1940s to help pupils make up for lost time.
Innovations set to be phased in next year include longer school days and shorter holidays.
With children returning to school after two months in lockdown, Mr Johnson said he was ‘very hopeful’ of a resounding success.
He added: ‘I’m…
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