Leek schools are making the wearing of masks optional for students as lockdown restrictions continue to ease around the country.

Previously, it was compulsory for children as young as 11 to wear masks in lessons and in corridors in schools around Leek and the rest of the country.

The mask wearing rule was brought in by Government as pupils returned to classrooms in March this year.

However, the rule has now been relaxed as part of the latest easing of lockdown starting from today (Monday, 17th May).

Students will no longer have to wear masks in lessons or in communal areas such as corridors, although staff must continue to wear masks in situations where social distancing is not possible, including corridors and communal areas.

In a letter to parents Leek High School confirmed that wearing masks would now be optional, rather than compulsory.

The school's head teacher Phill Evans said: "As you will be aware, the country will move to step three of the Covid-19 recovery roadmap on Monday 17th May.

"As part of this move, guidance on the use of face coverings in schools has been updated. As such, from Monday 17th May, face coverings for students will no longer be compulsory in school.

"This applies to both classrooms and communal indoor spaces. At present, students must still wear face coverings on school buses and public transport.

"Our updated risk assessment reflects these changes but does recognise that, in some situations, the use of face coverings remains an effective infection control strategy. We will therefore fully support any students and staff who wish to continue to use a face covering. We will also continue to supply face coverings to students if they have forgotten or broken theirs.

"The reintroduction of face coverings for students may be advised for a temporary period in response to particular localised outbreaks, including variants of concern. We will of course keep you updated should this be the case. All other infection control strategies will remain in place throughout the school site, as outlined in our risk assessment. This includes students:

– Staying in year-group bubbles

– Maintaining good hand hygiene through regular hand washing and the use of sanitiser

– Maintaining social distancing wherever practical to do so

"Adherence to these expectations is crucial in helping us to keep students and staff safe.

"Students should continue to test twice weekly for Covid-19, using the home test kits supplied by the school. We'll continue to distribute these as they are needed. Results should be registered with both the school and with NHS Track and Trace.

"Thank you for your ongoing support."

A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "Virus transmission in schools continues to drop, with the latest data showing a significant decrease in students and staff testing positive and cases isolated quickly thanks to our twice-weekly rapid testing programme.

"Removing facemasks will hugely improve interactions between teachers and students, while all other school safety measures will remain in place to help keep the virus out of classrooms."

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