Wick High School issues new guidance on face coverings

WICK High School has updated its policy on wearing face coverings in line with new Scottish Government guidelines.

The guidance, which comes into effect for all schools on Monday , states: “In light of the latest scientific and public health advice, including World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, face coverings should now [unless exemptions apply] be worn

• in secondary schools, by adults and all pupils moving around the school, such as in corridors and communal areas where physical distancing is difficult to maintain.
• on dedicated school transport by all children aged five and over, bringing it into line with guidance for public transport.

The new information also says that "while staff and students can continue to wear face coverings if they wish to, face coverings will not generally be necessary in the classroom as there is greater scope for physical distancing and face coverings can have an impact on learning and teaching".

"However, it remains the case that where adults cannot keep two metres distance and are interacting face-to-face for a sustained period (about 15 minutes or more), face coverings should be worn."

The school urges parents to discuss the matter with their children and ensure they are provided with reusable face covering to use on bus transport and at school from Monday.

The school bulletin continued: "Please be aware that there are some exemptions to the wearing of face coverings. If you have any concerns, please discuss these with your child’s head teacher.

"The safety and wellbeing of all staff and pupils remains a priority. Covid-19 is still with us, although there is currently no evidence of widespread transmission in Highland.

"We continue to ensure our settings are as safe as possible, all schools take account of their local circumstances and reflect this in detailed risk assessments. Additionally, local project boards continue to run on a weekly basis with a focus on individual school and community issues relating to transport, catering, property and facilities management and digital issues."

For more information visit www.highland.gov.uk/backtoschool

The Scottish Government has released a video on how to make a face covering.

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