Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a change in the use of face masks for secondary school children.
In a long-awaited Government briefing today, Mr Johnson announced secondary school pupils in England will no longer be required to wear masks in class from next week.
The decision to remove the requirement in secondary schools and colleges came as Mr Johnson announced that more indoor mixing will be allowed to take place from May 17.
MPs and parents have raised concerns about face coverings in class disrupting pupils' learning and wellbeing since they were introduced in March.
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But union leaders and scientists have called for them to remain in classrooms beyond next week to ensure pupils, staff, parents and the community are not put at risk of infection.
From May 17, face coverings for pupils will no longer be recommended in classrooms, or in communal areas, in secondary schools and colleges in England amid declining infection rates.
Last month, Schools Minister Nick Gibb said he hoped that pupils would no longer have to wear face masks in class in secondary schools from mid-May.
But last week, five unions representing teachers and support staff - as well as scientists and parents - wrote to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson urging him to keep masks in place until at least June 21.
Jon Richards, head of education at Unison, said it would be "unwise" to remove masks from classrooms at a time when Covid-19 infections remain in schools and not everyone has received a vaccine.
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Meanwhile, school leaders unions' called on ministers to set out the evidence behind any relaxation of rules to address concerns about infection risk.
Mr Johnson added easing will also include:
- Six people, or two households can mix indoors
- Groups of 30 can meet outside
- Overnight stays allowed with people not in your bubble
- Update on hugging your close family and friends not in your bubble
- Pubs, restaurants and cafe can serve people indoors
- Adult indoor group sports and exercise can restart
- Museums, theatres and cinemas can open
- Hotels, hostels and B&Bs can reopen
- No longer require face coverings in classroom.
- Uni students will go back to lectures, with testing twice a week.
- Care home residents given greater freedoms.
