Oxford Mail readers have been giving their views on the return of face masks in classrooms and on-site testing at secondary schools.

Both measures were introduced by the Government ahead of the return of pupils across the country this week, following the Christmas break.

Rob Pavey, headteacher at Cheney School in Headington, said masks would help lower the number of students catching Covid.

He added: “For us, it makes no difference as we’d been using face masks in classrooms before Christmas.

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“At a certain point, we have to go back to normal and treat it like the flu but when that point is coming, we don’t know.

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“Omicron has a high transmission rate but is less deadly. Masks help with lowering the transmission rate.”

Ian Corkin, Oxfordshire County Council’s chairman of the people overview and scrutiny committee, added: “Schools were able to order and take in delivery of lateral flow tests before Christmas so they were ahead of the curve.

“It’s a burden on schools of course, to be wearing masks but keeping kids in education is so important.”

The temporary reintroduction of face coverings aims to address concerns about schools remaining open for face-to-face learning this coming term.

Six school staff unions have issued a demand for urgent action to limit the spread of the virus.

They warned national exams would be put at risk without further measures.

They also called for air-cleaning units, financial support for absence cover, help with on-site testing and a relaxation of the Ofsted inspection regime.

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SARAH HAMMONDS: “Masks in classrooms destroy the education and self-esteem of so many hearing-impaired children and other children who rely on seeing faces.

“All masks reduce the volume of speech and muffle it too.

“Obscuring the face and distorting the sound means so many pupils are prevented from accessing lessons, class discussions and safety instructions.

“Even if the teacher is maskless so much education is gained from class discussions and questions and answers, all of which will be missed by these students if other pupils are in masks.

“Any chit chat or jokes that go on in class will also be completely missed by these children, which is social isolation leaving them with a feeling of no self-worth.

“This horrible isolation felt by these students has a massive devastating effect on their mental health.

“All children deserve to be included in conversations and social activity and they must be allowed to fully access all areas education at all times.

“Yes clear masks may be better than opaque ones but many fog up, reflect light, distort sound and reduce the volume of sound which means these disadvantaged pupils are at even more of a disadvantage.”

PAUL SCRIVER: “What about children that have hearing issues and rely on lip reading? Oh yes that’s right they won’t care and the children will suffer.”

SOPHIE KING: “You can buy special masks with a clear mouth piece for hearing and communication purposes! I work in a special needs school and this is what they use.”

SARAH HAMMONDS: “Sophie King although the clear masks are better than opaque ones they still reflect light, fog up and like any mask also reduce volume and muffle speech so they are not a full solution.

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“I’m assuming it’s only staff who wear them to try to semi-include deaf (and others who rely on seeing lips/faces) children.

“This alone is not enough to prevent the isolation of these children, all class discussions, questions and answers that make up so much education is missed by these pupils as they can’t understand their peers who are not in clear masks. Missing out on the chit chat that happens in class is so devastating for these pupils and really does impact mental health with the feeling of loneliness and no self worth they end up developing from being left out of everything. I’m really saddened to hear special schools aren’t aware of this and haven’t implemented anything to assist these children other than clear masks.”

OXFORD MAIL READER: “If its stops the spread of Covid, then its a good idea. Everyone I know who has had Covid caught it from their children who caught it at school.”