Health chiefs given power to advise on face masks
Public health directors have been given the power to recommend that face masks be worn in communal spaces in secondary schools without seeking Government approval.
The Department for Education (DfE) has given local chiefs this "additional flexibility" for the autumn term in areas with high or rapidly increasing case rates.
Previously local directors could only recommend a reintroduction of safety measures – including maskwearing in a school – if the area had been offered "an enhanced response package" by central government, or there was a substantial rise in cases at the school.
The updated guidance says local public health leaders can now advise wearing face coverings in communal areas of schools in "areas of high or rapidly increasing prevalence" of the virus and where increased lateral flow testing and action to increase vaccination uptake are also being advised.
It says primary school pupils should still not be advised to wear face coverings.
In May, the Government removed the requirement for pupils to wear face coverings in secondary school and college classrooms.
A DfE spokesperson said: "We are giving local directors of public health additional flexibility so they can temporarily advise that face coverings are worn in communal areas, in local areas experiencing high or rapidly increasing case rates.
"This is a temporary measure for the autumn term.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said :" It is absolutely right that local public health teams should be able move quickly and decisively where they see case numbers rising rapidly in their area."