Union urges Wigan schools to accept mask wearing in classrooms in September

There are concerns for both employees and pupils who have vulnerable family members who have been shielding or are in higher-risk groups themselves.

However, the union says the risk assessments for September it has seen so far shows schools in the borough are taking the ongoing threat of Covid-19 very seriously and are working hard to keep everyone involved in education safe.

But there was criticism of the Government for not making face coverings mandatory in schools despite that now being the rules in a wide range of other indoor public spaces.

NEU Wigan joint district secretary Max Atkins said: “It’s ridiculous that you have to wear face masks in a shop with five people in it yet it’s still not compulsory in a classroom with 30 pupils and one or two staff.

“The sooner the Government changes its mind on this the better.

“The worry is pupils bringing coronavirus into school and then passing it on to their teachers and support staff, many of whom are in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

“I would like for all pupils and staff to be able to wear face masks if necessary, especially if they are from an ethnic minority or are clinically vulnerable.

“People need to be given the option to wear a mask if that makes them feel safe. Some of them are being asked to come back into school when they have only just stopped shielding. To them the coronavirus is a very serious threat to their life.

“I’ve made suggestions on the risk assessments I’ve seen but they do suggest schools are pretty much Covid safe.”

Mr Atkins said schools should prepare for an autumn term filled with difficulty and disruption as large numbers of staff and pupils could potentially have to self-isolate at short notice if there are outbreaks of the coronavirus.

Virtually all pupils in England are currently expected to be returning to the classroom in September.

Schools will be expected to set up class or year group bubbles to minimise the number of contacts children have per day.