SECONDARY school pupils will wear face masks following a government U-turn.

Pupils over the age of 11 will have to wear face coverings in corridors and communal areas when schools reopen next week.

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'Pupils will have to wear face masks - it's the only way schools can reopen with trust' - says Worcester headteacher

This was announced on Tuesday night - a day after Downing Street initially said that students would be safe without them.

Gareth Doodes, headteacher at the King’s School, Worcester, had already decided to make the wearing of masks mandatory when entering the school, walking around it and leaving.

Mr Doodes said: “The primary aim of school leaders must be to protect staff and pupils.

“It has been demonstrated that the wearing of masks can reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, and allowing headteachers the freedom to decide what is best for their school is the right approach.

“At King’s, we had already decided to make the wearing of masks mandatory outside of lessons and year group bubbles, and the reaction has been universally positive.

“Schools must – at all times – protect pupils, protect staff, and reassure parents.”

Before the government reversed its guidance, Mr Doodes said: “This has to be the only way schools can reopen with trust, enabling us to protect staff and safeguard pupils.”

Headteachers in any secondary school will also have the “flexibility” to introduce masks in their schools, and it’s up to them to decide.

The change in rules will not mean face coverings in the classroom - which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said would have been “nonsensical” as “you can’t teach with face coverings and you can’t expect people to learn with face coverings.”

Councillor Marcus Hart, Worcestershire County Council cabinet member with responsibility for education and skills, said: “Schools and colleges will have the discretion to require face coverings for Year 7s and above in communal areas where social distancing cannot be safely managed.”