THE headteacher of Twynham School in Christchurch said it is not their intention to make wearing facemasks in school a “long term measure”.

Earlier this week, Jy Taylor sent a letter to parents explaining all students will be expected to wear facemasks when they returned to school.

This news divided opinion, and Mr Taylor has now sent a letter to parents clarifying his decision.

He said: “I am aware that this is an emotive issue and it is not our intention to do anything other than make decisions which we believe are in the best interests of our community.

“Firstly, it is important to note that the decision is underpinned by two key considerations. 

“Whilst it is true that the younger you are, the less likely you are to be seriously affected should you catch Covid-19, it is generally agreed that young people over the age of 12 are just as likely to transmit Covid-19 as adults.  

“There is increasing uncertainty about the transmission of Covid-19 as an airborne aerosol – hence the change in guidance by the World Health Organisation last week for circumstances where physical distancing cannot be maintained.

“Next week we will welcome back 1800 students from across Christchurch and East Bournemouth, many of whom will have travelled either around the country or indeed around the world.

“Given that many young people appear to be asymptomatic, we simply will not know whether there is an increased risk in the community. 

“It therefore seems sensible that we reduce any possible risk still further by expecting students to wear facemasks in the first few weeks as our new teaching groups settle. 

“It is not our intention for this to be a long term measure, but we do believe it is a measure worth taking to reduce the risk of the start of term being interrupted by an outbreak of cases in such a large community – students have already missed too much school.”

Mr Taylor said the decision will be under “constant, daily review” and hoped as students settled into their regular teaching groups they would be able to relax the expectations “relatively quickly”.