Important information about face coverings (England only)

1 min read

Thursday 8 April 2021

The Department for Education (dfE) have announced that face coverings should continue to be worn in secondary schools and college classrooms when students return after the Easter break to help limit spread of Covid-19.

Anyone currently exempt from wearing a face mask will continue to remain exempt, including pupils or staff who are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expression to communicate.

The government expects that wearing face masks will no longer be required to be worn in classrooms, or in other communal areas in schools and colleges, at step 3 of their roadmap, which will be no earlier than May 17th.

Read the updated Covid-19 parent carer guidance from the DfE which includes the new face covering guidance.

Please note that the guidance about face mask wearing in schools and colleges differs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.