THE UK government is facing calls to review its guidance as pupils in Scotland will be required to wear a face covering when they return to school next week.
The Association of School and College Leaders said as evidence continues to emerge, Westminster should review its guidance.
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It comes as the World Health Organisation advised that children aged 12 and over should wear a mask or covering.
But yesterday, a spokesperson for Number 10 said there were "no plans" to review the guidance on face coverings in schools.
In Scotland, secondary schools will be given “obligatory guidance” that pupils should wear face coverings when moving around schools from August 31.
ASCL general secretary Geoff Barton told the Daily Telegraph this morning: “We would expect the Government in Westminster to review its guidance on the use of face coverings in schools – which currently says they are not required – in light of the WHO guidance and the consultation taking place in Scotland.
“The evidence is clearly evolving on this issue and it is important that it is kept under review and that clear direction is provided to schools.”
Mr Swinney said that, from August 31, pupils in Scotland should be wearing masks in areas where physical distancing is not possible.
Speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme, he said the Scottish Government was going further than the WHO guidance by recommending masks on school buses.
But the UK Government's position remains that there is still no evidence to suggest they will be effective in England schools.
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this week said it was safer for children to remain at school than at home.
He said: “I have previously spoken about the moral duty to reopen schools to all pupils safely, and I would like to thank the school staff who have spent the summer months making classrooms Covid-secure in preparation for a full return in September.
“We have always been guided by our scientific and medical experts, and we now know far more about coronavirus than we did earlier this year."
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