Angry parents slam secondary school teachers for putting children in detention because they were wearing face masks in class

• Some pupils at The Abbey School, Faversham, Kent, wore masks as cases rise
• Teachers said the masks act as a 'barrier to learning' and should remove them
• The youngsters are ironically required to wear masks when in isolation room

A school has been slammed by angry parents after their children were given detentions and taken out of the class for wearing face masks in lessons. 

Some pupils at The Abbey School in Faversham, Kent, have started covering up as cases soar amid fears of the Omicron variant.

But teachers say the masks act as a 'barrier to learning' and should be removed during lessons.

Ironically, youngsters are required to wear a mask in 'reflection', which is a room for pupils of different years to work in isolation when removed from lessons as punishment.

Elouise Gould, 33, says 13-year-old daughter Paige has been put in the 'reflection' room three times this week for wearing a face mask in the classroom.

She also pointed out that her daughter has had Covid three times.  

'To protect ourselves and others she has worn her mask in class but she has been taken to reflection each time, and has been put in detention,' Ms Gould told KentOnline.

'But then in reflection they have to wear a mask, which is ridiculous.

'They are taking her out of class and stopping her interacting with teachers and with friends.

'In reflection, they are there with a book and a bit of paper, which she could do at home, where she would be safer.'

Karly May, 32, says son Albie May has also been put in isolation at The Abbey School and given after-school detentions for covering up in class.

The 15-year-old chooses to do so to protect a terminally ill grandparent and his nine year old sister, who has chronic lung disease and a weak immune system.

Ms May said: 'I am in limbo at the minute because I want to keep my kids in school but they're not allowed to wear masks.

'They are not allowing it at the moment because it is not government guidance.'

An Abbey School spokeswoman said: 'This has only affected two students out of 1,200.

'The rest of the school community are positively safe and happy.

'If any student was to say they had any health issues where they needed to wear a mask, the school would of course be sympathetic to that.

'But we are just following guidance from government and the Department for Education.

'We were already aware of rising case levels and introduced wearing masks when moving around communal areas three weeks early.'