Secondary pupils will no longer have to wear masks in classrooms, the Prime Minister has announced.
The move will come into place from tomorrow, Thursday, he told the Commons this afternoon.
Students and staff have been wearing the face coverings in class since returning from the Christmas break, with many also asked to wear them in the run up to the holidays amid rising case rates.
Read more: Parents blast school for not letting pupils attend without proof of negative Covid test
But now they are being scrapped altogether and will soon not be required in communal areas either.
The PM told the Commons: “Having looked at the data carefully, the Cabinet concluded that once regulations lapse the Government will no longer mandate the wearing of face masks anywhere.
“From tomorrow, we will no longer require face masks in classrooms and the Department for Education will shortly remove national guidance on their use in communal areas.
“In the country at large we will continue to suggest the use of face coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces, particularly when you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet – but we will trust the judgement of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.”
The announcement is likely to be a controversial one, with parents and teachers somewhat divided on whether they think the masks are necessary.
And with the ongoing disruption from pupils testing positive amid the new variant, some will be asking whether it's the right move to help keep infection rates under control.
The move has already been criticised by teaching unions.
Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: "Schools and colleges are still feeling the impact of Covid.
"The latest ONS infection survey update shows 1 in 10 primary age pupils have COVID. While the trend amongst secondary aged children is down it is however uncertain, due to the short time schools have been back since the Christmas holidays, that this trend will continue. Such uncertainty could lead to a pronounced risk of increased disruption with children and staff having to isolate.
"We are concerned to see what the Covid related absence is when figures are released next week. The danger is we lift restrictions too quickly before the effects of returning to school are clear. This will result in more education disruption which is extremely worrying particularly for pupils taking national exams this year whose education has been so badly disrupted already."
She added: "Rather than announcements aimed at saving Boris Johnson’s job, Government should be exercising a duty of care to the nation’s pupils and the staff who educate them.
"This disruption is at the door of the Government who should have got ventilation and filtration solutions in place before Omicron as advised by SAGE and they should be getting these solutions in place urgently now to ensure interruption of education remains at the minimum."
The National Association of Headteachers agrees, saying it makes little sense when school leaders 'still feel very much in the eye of the Covid storm'.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary NAHT, said: “The Prime Minister’s statement about lifting plan B measures will feel, to many school leaders, at odds with the current situation on the ground.
"Mass disruption is ongoing, with high numbers of staff and pupils absent. School leaders are telling us they still feel very much in the eye of the Covid storm.
“The reality for many children and young people is that Covid continues to seriously disrupt the normal rhythm of schools.
"Parents and teachers alike will be hopeful that we have passed the peak of infections from Omicron, but it is imperative that schools continue to be supported by government to keep the gates open, as we emerge from the depths of winter disruption.”
What do you think about the scrapping of masks in secondary schools and colleges? Are you pleased? Do you think it's the wrong move? Let us know your views in the comments here.
