A headteacher has said having pupils back in school is the most important thing for their mental health, as the Omicron variant continues to disrupt education.
As the new term got underway pupils were once again asked to wear face coverings in classrooms.
Many schools continue to face high levels of staff absence due to Covid-19, with the Press Association reporting a survey of school leaders revealed 36 per cent had more than 10 per cent of their total school staff off on the first day of term.
READ MORE: Is it right for school pupils to wear face masks in class?
A leading mental health charity in Oxfordshire explained the reintroduction of face coverings, as well as high levels of Omicron, “can cause anxiety in some people.”
Dan Knowles, CEO of Oxfordshire Mind, said: “Remember it’s ok to feel anxious and it’s ok to seek support for it.”
The effects of isolation on pupils, rather than mask wearing, was more pressing for Marina Gardiner Legge, headmistress of Oxford High School.
She said: “The most important thing in terms of mental health is that children need to be back in school. Research done over the pandemic shows that, especially for teenagers, being isolated at home is much more damaging for their mental health than wearing a face covering.
“We are focusing as much as possible on just getting them back in and making sure that the routines of cleaning and testing are in place. If they do not want to wear a mask, they do not have to.”
She adds her teaching staff are “real heroes” and the school sees it as more important for teachers to “connect” with pupils rather than “police them” about masks.
Rob Pavey, head of Cheney School, explained that while some students are bothered by masks the school has not seen any evidence of it adding to mental health difficulties.
However, Mr Pavey believes the biggest challenge facing the school is staff absence.
He said: “I think we will manage to avoid having to close the school, although it wouldn’t surprise me if there were short periods when one or two year groups needed to learn from home, although we will do everything we can to minimise this.”
A spokesperson for Oxfordshire County Council said: “Oxfordshire County Council is required to follow national government guidance regarding Covid-19, and this includes mask-wearing.
“We are confident that our schools are doing everything possible to look after the welfare of children and staff, and to keep them safe in these extremely challenging times.
“It is important that schools are open as that is the biggest protective factor for children’s emotional mental health.”
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