Students in secondary schools and colleges are told to continue wearing face masks in classrooms into the summer term – and the topic has had a divisive reaction from Watford Observer readers.

The Department for Education said that mask wearing will continue into the summer term, despite previously stating the rule as a “precautionary measure” for when schools reopened on March 8.

And while it will continue after Easter, the government says it is expected that students will not have to wear masks in classrooms or other communal areas from May 17.

A large union, UNISON, has declared the idea as ‘sensible’, but some readers of the Watford Observer have been opposed to the idea.

One reader, Rachel Emma, questioned: “Why test twice a week if children are still expected to wear masks all day at school? Wearing a mask for six hours straight must be awful. And worse as the warmer weather greets us. Poor Kids. They’ve endured enough.”

Angie Willey argued it’s “another topic they (the government) keep moving the goalposts on” and believes it could extend for longer. Like some readers, she equated mask wearing to “child abuse”.

Other readers suggested that mask-wearing has had some form of impact to education in schools.

But overall, there was a slight majority of readers who told the Observer they were in support of extending the mask rule for students for the time being.

Sarah Haney said: “I think the children should still wear masks in school, it’s for their sake and the other children and teachers. My daughter is eight and she wears a mask when we go shopping and it’s her choice because she wants to keep herself safe and others around her.”

A few – and while some of the few were in jest – even suggested face masks should become more prominent in schools past the pandemic.

Others had more rational responses, suggesting there should be an in-between where some mask wearing rules are enforced in schools.

Matthew Donovan said: “It’s a difficult question to answer. Children already have a lot of pressure put on them at school and this just adds to it. Perhaps younger children shouldn’t wear them but maybe sixth formers or college students. It’s more important the teachers have them though.

“Also we have to be aware some children won’t be able to wear them.”

Jim Eaf said: “When sat their desk in their own space, no need to wear one. When wondering around the building or walking between rooms, or when within close proximity to another, yes they should wear one.”

There were quite a few other comments suggesting similar enforcements where mask wearing is only needed in communal or crowded areas in schools, but not while students are stationary.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: "The return to school and college from 8 March has been an incredible success and I would like to thank staff, parents and pupils for their compliance with the guidance on reducing transmission of the virus.

"Our latest data also showed that attendance in school remains higher than at any point during the autumn term.

"On top of the protective measures previously in place such as regular handwashing and ventilation, we introduced face coverings in the classroom for secondary schools and colleges to help reduce transmission in parallel with the introduction of twice-weekly testing.

"Schools and students have done a great job adapting to Covid secure guidance and working hard to make sure it doesn't impact learning.

"We obviously all want to get back to face mask-free classrooms and we will do this in line with the latest scientific data while balancing the interests of students, teachers and the wider community."

Professor John Simpson of Public Health England said: "The return to school after Easter will allow us to continue monitoring the impacts of measures to reduce the spread of Covid, as we encourage families to test regularly.

"Wearing face coverings in secondary schools is an extra control measure to reduce the risk of transmission to support children continuing their education in the classroom."