Requirement for face coverings in Scottish schools removed from February 28, says Nicola Sturgeon

The requirement for children and teachers in secondary schools in Scotland to wear face coverings in class is being scrapped from the end of this month, Nicola Sturgeon announced.

She revealed the change at the start of First Minister’s Questions in the Scottish Parliament.

An expert advisory group discussed the issue on Tuesday, the First Minister said, and had advised the “removal of the requirement to wear face coverings in the classroom” could be the next restriction to be relaxed.

Ms Sturgeon said the change would apply to teachers and pupils, and would come into place from February 28, when all schools will have returned from the half-term break.

She told MSPs the move would “reduce barriers to communication in the classroom and reduce any wellbeing impacts which arise from the use of face coverings”.

Ms Sturgeon added that anyone who still wanted to wear a face covering in class would still be able to.