Secondary school kids return in masks as heads enforce their own rules

THOUSANDS of secondary school kids returned to their classes in masks today as heads set their own rules.

Pupils were snapped covering up as they went into their schools – many for the first time in six months.

Pupils wear protective face masks on the first day back to school at Outwood Academy Adwick in Doncaster

Pupils from The Fulham Boys School return to school for the first time since March

Only kids in lockdown areas need to wear masks in England, but many heads are asking them to anyway

The Government u-turned just days before kids went back to school and said it would be sensible for them to be worn in communal areas in lockdown locations where there were higher rates of infection.

But there wasn’t a need to cover up where levels are lower.

Kids in Scotland are being asked to wear them in all areas where they come into contact with others – such as corridors and staff rooms.

But the UK Government has said headteachers can set their own rules.

The World Health Organisation now says that children ages 12 and over should wear them under the same conditions as adults – in particular where they can’t stay at least 1 metre away from others and there’s widespread transmission in the area.

Parents can be fined if they don’t send their kids back in, too.

Millions of children have returned to schools for the first time since they were shut during the lockdown back in March.

Staggered start time, keeping kids separate from each other in their own year-group or class bubbles and extra cleaning will be in place to keep kids safe.

Yesterday ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt called for all teachers to get coronavirus tests twice a week to reassure nervous parents it’s safe for them to return.

And fresh research shows that kids are six times less likely to spread coronavirus.

Kadie Lane (right), 11, and Brooke Howourth, 11, walking to Marden Bridge Middle School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

A head shows kids how to elbow bump instead to greet their pals

Traffic appeared busier today as more went back to work

Many kids were desperate to get back to class and be reunited with their friends once again.

However, there were fears that some will be months behind as a result of being unable to do work during the lockdown.

Boris Johnson has promised that schools will be the last to shut in any second lockdown.

He wants to make sure that lockdowns are as local as possible in future.

And only when there is a huge outbreak will schools possibly shut down.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/politics/bbc-proms-row-rule-britannia-and-land-of-hope-and-glory-will-be-sung-after-u-turn/