PARENTS have been told their children must only wear £2 school issue face masks at an East London academy as they have been added to the official uniform.
Any teen failing to wear the approved navy masks will face unspecified sanctions for breaching the secondary school’s uniform.
St Edward’s Church of England Academy, in Romford, Havering, has insisted its 1,300 student needed to buy the face masks in the school’s colour before the start of the September term.
Students will be reminded that deliberate defiance will be dealt with in line with the school behaviour policy, using separate sanctions as necessary.
Head Jodie Hassan
The school’s website also instructs pupils to wear a disposable mask when travelling to and from school, changing mask at the school gates.
Change masks at school gates
St Edward’s website tells parents that pupils should wear “disposable” masks when using public transport to go to school before putting on their “school issued face masks” on arrival.
Pupils have to wear the £2 masks in communal areas including corridors, the library and school assemblies.
Jodie Hassan
Headteacher Jodie Hassan wrote to parents and carers, saying students and staff will be asked to wear face masks in communal areas.
“Face masks for students will become part of the expected school uniform from September 2020.
“School approved face masks are 100 per cent cotton and triple layered.
“The school uniform face masks are plain navy blue and are reusable.”
Ms Hassan’s letter explains parents have to buy the £2 before school restarts.
Government rules vary
“Not wearing school approved face masks in the allotted areas will be treated as not wearing school uniform properly,” the school website warns.
Government instructions about the use of face masks at schools varies according to local area condition.
Secondary schools in areas with local lockdowns – such as Manchester and Birmingham – must wear face coverings in communal areas such as corridors, though they do not have to wear them in classrooms.
In Scotland, secondary school pupils must wear face masks in school corridors and the lunch hall.
Face masks are not compulsory in other parts of England, it is up to each headteacher to make a decision on wearing masks.
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