Two secondary schools in Cornwall are asking students to wear face masks when they return for the autumn term in just over a week.

A letter addressed to parents, carers and pupils of Mullion School was sent yesterday and is available to view on its website, informing them of the decision of the trustees of Southerly Point Cooperative Multi Academy Trust, which oversees both Mullion Comprehensive and Helston Community College.

It follows a U-turn by the government on Wednesday over its advice on face coverings in schools, saying that while it was not recommending face coverings were necessary, schools would "have the discretion" to require face coverings in communal areas if they "believe that is right in their particular circumstances."

Days earlier the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a new statement that advised “children aged 12 and over should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, in particular when they cannot guarantee at least a one-metre distance from others and there is widespread transmission in the area.”

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In the letter Mullion headteacher Wayne Randle wrote: "Following the recent announcement from the government concerning face masks in schools, the trustees of Southerly Point Cooperative Multi Academy Trust met to decide on a trust-wide approach to provide consistency and clarity.

"The trustees' view was that in both Mullion and Helston secondary schools masks should be worn in line with WHO advice - specifically they expect to see masks being used on buses and in all general indoor areas other than classrooms. Staff and pupils should adhere to this.

"It is also strongly advisable for individuals to have a small plastic bag to stow them in between use and that we reinforce the importance of the mask being a clean one for each day.

"In terms of classrooms, it is still advised that masks should not be worn - however, this will be looked at on a case by case basis and if a child or adult exhibits high anxiety and feels more comfortable wearing one then this should be permitted but this should not be the rule.

"The opposite applies for children whose SEND Educational Health Care (EHCP) advises they should be exempt."

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Mr Randle went on to say that a key concern of the trustees was that children should be educated on the best practice to take masks on and off and where they should keep them in between use, ideally sanitising again before re-donning the mask, which he said should have been stowed safely between each use - ie in a plastic bag not a pocket.

"Pupils who cannot wear masks for health/SEND reasons need to be easily identifiable so they are not challenged by others. We will ensure this is achieved in a sensitive and sensible manner.

"In addition to this, for all Trust schools, trustees want any visitor who wouldn't normally work in the setting to wear masks. They feel this is a good practice elsewhere in working environments to protect staff and so should happen in school.

"I do think where a visiting professional is working with a child at two-metre distance then the mask is not needed but that should be the only exception," he added.

Helston Community College has also confirmed details of the decision on its website, stating: "Following the recent government announcement on masks in schools, the Trust has decided that face coverings should be worn by staff and students when moving around the college, such as in corridors and communal areas where social distancing is difficult to maintain.

"It will not be necessary to wear face coverings in the classroom, where protective measures already mean the risks are lower. Additional information will be sent out shortly."

The school has also included a link to a video explaining how to wear a mask safely.