Concern over mental health

A majority of parents in England support the government's announcement that the current recommendation for secondary pupils to wear face coverings in classrooms has been scrapped.

Our poll of 2,056 parents, representing 3,998 primary and secondary school children, found that almost two thirds (64%) of secondary parents were against pupils wearing face coverings in classrooms.

But out of the 35% who agreed with the measure, many did so strongly.

What we're hearing from parents is that a majority would like their child's education to get back to some sort of pre-pandemic "normal” as quickly as possible.

Remote learning from home for months on end and cancelled exams have been some of the more drastic impacts upon young people's lives and education, but there have been many others too.

Our recent research points to significant parental concerns about their children's mental health, and this has been exacerbated by all of the upheaval to schooling and family life.

Face coverings are intended as a way to limit the spread of the virus and keep children in the classroom, but many parents will have made up their minds that, on balance, they would prefer their child's learning to continue without them.

As the course of this pandemic has been unpredictable, we urge the government to keep a close eye on school attendance figures, and constantly reevaluate the guidance for schools on keeping them Covid-safe.

This should include regular consultation with parents, especially if the guidance is updated.

John Jolly, Parentkind CE.