Question reference: S5W-32041
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 24 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 6 October 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its estimate is of the (a) number and (b) percentage of pupils who have been wearing a face covering at all times when moving around school corridors and communal areas in each local authority since the updated guidance was published on 25 August 2020.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold this information. Implementation of the agreed guidance is the responsibility of local authorities and schools, working closely with their school communities.
However, we are working with partners to carefully monitor how the guidance is being applied in practice. We seek regular feedback from partners via the Education Recovery Group about the experiences of pupils and staff in schools for these purposes. Where there is a need to take action, either by updating our guidance or ensuring it is being given practical effect, we will work with partners to do so.
Following 500 initial telephone compliance checks, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has now nearly completed its programme of follow-up compliance visits to 100 schools regarding implementation of school reopening guidance. The HSE’s overall findings were positive. HSE officials provided feedback that, while the use of face coverings did not form a central part of health and safety assessments during visits, in the secondary schools visited use of face coverings in communal areas and corridors was in general well observed.