Education gap between rich and poor pupils stopped narrowing before pandemic, study says

The educational divide between rich and poor pupils in the UK had stopped narrowing even before the coronavirus pandemic caused mass disruption to children’s education, researchers have found.

Experts fear the pandemic could exacerbate the attainment gap for less affluent children as pupils are constrained by a lack of access to technology, individual tutorship and stable learning environments.

Staff are ‘dizzy’ from government’s U-turns on schools, deputy head says

A deputy headteacher at a school in Manchester has said staff are “dizzy” from all the government’s U-turns this summer over education.

Tara O’Halloran, deputy headteacher at Flixton Girls’ School, Greater Manchester, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the sudden change in advice from the government had been confusing for teachers.

“Well firstly I think we’re a bit dizzy from all the U-turns that have happened this summer,” Ms O’Halloran said.

“I agree with what Geoff Barton said yesterday from our school that we’re educational professionals not medical or scientific experts and I think at present if we’ve been advised by the World Health Organisation that students should wear them in public spaces or communal spaces then I think we have to go with that guidance.”

She added: “It is confusing with the U-turn when [advice] has previously been quite dismissive about the use in schools but I think what we need to do is adopt all mitigating measures to make sure our community is safe in schools.”

Williamson rules out extending mandatory face masks in schools further

Gavin Williamson has ruled out mandatory requirements for face coverings in schools being extended further.

When asked by the BBC if measures could be enhanced, Mr Williamson replied: “No, no, there’s no intention of extending it beyond that because as both [Dr Jenny Harries] said and [schools minister Nick Gibb] said is that actually that isn’t what is required.

“But where you’re seeing in local lockdown areas, we recognise the importance in making sure that we maintain education in every part of the country.”

He added: “The last thing that we ever want to see close is schools and we need to ensure that all schools are open so that children are able to access our world-class education that we all want to see them benefiting from.”

Williamson insists ‘best’ scientific advice indicates face masks are not necessary in all schools 

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has said the “best” scientific and medical advice indicates that the wearing of face coverings in all schools is not necessary.

“We always follow and listen to the best scientific and medical advice, and that’s why we’re not recommending that face coverings should be mandatory right across the country in all schools,” Mr Williamson told Sky News.

“The best scientific and medical advice says that that isn’t necessary.”

However, he said masks were being introduced as “an extra precautionary measure” in some parts of the country with high rates of coronavirus transmission.

“When we do look at school return, the key thing, the thing that has informed us most of all, yes, it is for scientific and medical advice and it’s been on the basis of how we ensure that all schools are as safe as possible,” he added.

Two-metre social distancing rule based on ‘outdated science,’ medical experts say

The two-metre social distancing rule used around the world to limit the spread of coronavirus is based on “outdated science”, experts have said.

A group of British scientists have called for the one-size-fits-all system to be replaced by “graded recommendations” for different settings.

The researchers, writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), said more flexible guidance would enable “a return towards normality in some aspects of social and economic life”.

Further guidance on masks published by government

Further guidance on face coverings in schools in England has been published by the government, setting out when they are required and which pupils are exempt.

The guidance says in local lockdown areas face coverings should be worn by staff and students moving around schools in communal areas and corridors from 1 September.

If new local restrictions are imposed, schools will need to communicate new arrangements “quickly and clearly” to staff, parents and pupils.

It says that all schools and colleges will have the discretion to require face coverings in communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed – such as when the layout of a school makes it difficult to do so.

If a student or staff member is struggling to access a mask, of if it is soiled or unsafe, the guidance says schools should take steps to have a “small contingency supply” available.

The guidance adds that no-one should be excluded on the grounds that they are not wearing a face covering.

Exemptions to the new measures include those who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability, or if a person is speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate.

Boris Johnson U-turns on advice against face masks in schools

Boris Johnson has dropped advice against the use of face coverings in English schools after coming under pressure from unions, opposition parties and teachers.

From 1 September, staff and pupils in secondary schools in local lockdown areas will be required to wear face coverings when moving around the building and in communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain. 

However, masks will not be mandated in the classroom and school leaders will have discretion over whether to require face coverings elsewhere in the country.