Schools minister defends asking secondary school pupils to wear masks

Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester, was quizzed about the need for the guidance at a meeting of the education select committee earlier this week after “huge numbers” of students refused to wear masks in schools, according to the NASUWT teachers’ union.

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Currently, all pupils and teachers in secondary schools are advised to wear masks indoors during school hours unless they are exempt. Teachers at the front of the classroom are exempt from wearing a mask to aid education and communication, DfE guidelines state.

The education select committee referenced a government study into the effectiveness of masks in schools for reducing transmission of the omicron variant of Covid-19, which cited the results as “not conclusive”.

Miriam Cates, Conservative MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, told the committee that “the evidence from this study is so thin”.

Walker described the guidance as a “finely balanced decision”, but defended the current guidelines, stating: “If we think this makes a difference to keeping schools open and keeping more children in schools then it is a decision we are prepared to take.”

Walker was further quizzed by MPs on the negative impact of wearing masks in schools on young people.

Cates raised the “psychological impact” of  asking teenagers to wear masks for six hours a day, and Tom Hunt, MP for Ipswich, highlighted that those who struggle with masks are “often disadvantaged”, including students with special educational needs and disabilities.

In response to these concerns, Walker said the guidance was “flexible”.

“I think it’s really important that this is not a hard and fast rule that everyone must wear a mask in the classroom,” he said.

“This is guidance and there are exceptions for people with special needs and cases who might be hearing impaired, there would be a very strong case for not wearing masks.”

Walker further highlighted that DfE has “made it very clear that no one should be excluded for not being able to or refusing to wear a mask”.

Charities who advocate for individuals and families who are classed clinically extremely vulnerable have highlighted the “invisible nature” of immunodeficiencies, therefore meaning fellow classmates could be vulnerable without peers necessarily knowing.

“It isn’t always obvious whether someone is vulnerable to the severe consequences of catching Covid-19 – so I’d encourage all of us, children and adults to consider others when making decisions about taking tests or mask wearing,” said Susan Walsh, chief executive officer at Immunodeficiency UK.

Olly Parker, head of external affairs at YoungMinds, highlighted the anxiety students feel about schools during the pandemic: “When we spoke to thousands of young people with mental health problems last year, many were concerned about safety from coronavirus in schools and especially about the prospect of future lockdowns.

“Overall, it’s crucial that schools are an inclusive and supportive environment and those who find wearing a mask difficult can access the help they need,” added Parker.

The DfE will review guidance on face coverings and masks on 26 January.