Face coverings back in lessons for some pupils due to “upturn in confirmed cases”

A school in Wrexham has adjusted it’s face covering policy – with another recovering from an “exceptional” few days that saw 17 staff off for various reasons.

On Monday the Maelor School in Penley wrote to parents and students explaining that due to an “upturn in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the school, most notably in Years 8, 10 and 11” changes were being made to the face cover policy.

The school said, “However, following consultation with the local authority, we are recommending that face coverings should be worn around school and in lessons.”

We asked Wrexham Council about that discussion and if the face covering guidance was being rolled out across all schools in Wrexham or if it was a decision for schools to make.

The council told us, “Where the number of cases hits certain triggers, heads are being advised to temporarily re-instate some of the safeguards that they may have previously relaxed. It’s the expected approach across all schools and LAs in Wales.”

Officially the Welsh Government advice on face coverings in schools states:

“We no longer recommend the routine use of face coverings in the classroom for staff or learners. Schools may wish to encourage their use in areas where there is likely to be more social mixing, such as in communal areas.

As part of their risk assessment process, schools will be able to decide whether the use of face coverings for staff or secondary learners is appropriate based on their own circumstances, supported by public health officials, and in discussion with local authorities.

Face coverings should continue to be worn by learners in secondary schools when travelling on dedicated school transport. This aligns with the continuing requirement for all passengers aged 11 years and over to wear face coverings on public transport. This does not apply to younger children in primary schools and in early years settings.

If anyone wishes to wear a face covering for personal reasons anywhere in the school they should be permitted to do so. This may help support their wider well-being, reduce anxiety and provide additional reassurance for some individuals alongside other mitigating measures.”

In the letter the school detailed the symptoms of coronavirus, and reiterated that parents should arrange for a PCR test immediately for the pupil and not send them to school, “Anyone else in your household with any of these three key symptoms should also isolate and take a PCR test. If any member of your household has tested positive for COVID-19, we also recommend that your child should undertake a daily lateral flow test every day for seven days in addition to PCR tests on Day 2 and Day 8. This should start on the day a member of your household is confirmed positive from a lateral flow or PCR test result.
Anyone with a positive test result should follow the rules set out at gov.wales/self isolation. If the test is negative, your child can return to school as soon as they feel better.”

Simon Ellis the Headteacher, added, “We know how disruptive the last year has been for everyone. This year we want to keep your child in school as much as possible, but we also want to keep our schools and communities safe from the effects of COVID-19”

Yesterday Ysgol Clywedog announced a full return for the entire school, after announcing a “exceptional measures” and a partial closure last week after explaining on the 14th that they had 17 members of staff absent “due to general absences, general illness and illness related to Covid-19”

At the time they noted, “We have attempted to secure the services of supply teachers to address the above shortfall but the growing impact of the spread of the Covid-19 virus means that the demand from all secondary schools in the region for these temporary cover teachers has dramatically increased in recent days. ”

You can read the Welsh Government guidance for schools on https://gov.wales/schools-coronavirus-guidance but check with schools for more local policies.