The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) warned this morning that schools may have to close again, if not enough pupils wear a face covering. Millions of children are returning to classrooms today.
The union, which represents secondary school head teachers, has written to parents who have objected to their children wearing a mask in class. The government has recommended that secondary school kids wear a mask, but it is not the law.
The union is warning parents, that if too many kids refuse to comply, schools may have to close for insurance reasons. Education ministers have said that schools must not exclude children who show up at school without a mask.
Secondary school pupils returning this morning, will be offered a rapid lateral flow test. Again, while schools are strongly advising that children take the tests, there is no legal requirement they do so. 
The government has recommended that once a child is tested at school today, he/she is then tested twice weekly at home.
I’ve been watching SKY and BBC coverage of children returning to secondary schools this morning. It’s terribly disheartening to see boys and girls holding a vanity mirror while sticking a swab up their noses and down the back of their throats. It’s chilling.
It’s also depressing to see them finish the test and then don a facemask. Wearing a mask for eight hours a day can seriously damage a child’s health. Please show this video to the parents of any child returning to high school today.
