Kids told to remove masks pulled out of school by mum

Suzanne Byrne, 48, said staff at Woodchurch High School in Birkenhead refused to let her children wear protective face masks which she had given them.

The school has said it’s following government guidelines and has made an “informed decision” not to require that masks are worn.

Suzanne’s eldest son Angelo Galindo, 15, called her just an hour in to the school day to say he had been told to take off his mask.

Angelo and Suzanne’s two other children, Roman Galindo, 13, and Ireland Galindo, 12, who is disabled and has a neurological condition, all study at Woodchurch High School and were not allowed to wear masks.

Suzanne Byrne, whose children were sent home from Woodchurch High School for refusing to take off their face masks

Suzanne said: “My daughter is disabled and extremely vulnerable and so am I.

“There’s no point protecting my daughter if my boys aren’t afforded the same protection. We will stay away from the school until they can wear masks.

“My eldest Angelo said he is not comfortable doing something which could kill his sister.”

Suzanne is also particularly vulnerable to Covid-19, as she suffers from a lung condition, and the whole family had been shielding in their home since the start of the lockdown until the beginning of August when shielding guidelines were relaxed.

After the phone call from Angelo, Suzanne went straight to the school and protested that her children should be allowed to wear masks.

According to Suzanne, the school simply said their policy was for children to not wear face masks at the school.

Suzanne also spoke about the sacrifices her family had made during the lockdown and pleaded with the school to show flexibility.

She said: “There are government guidelines, but there’s nothing saying masks should be banned.

“Common sense should prevail. You cannot overrule the need to protect yourself and your family by being told you cannot wear a mask.

“We stayed in until August and now we’re going out the boys have been amazing, always wearing their masks when we go outside.

"We haven’t done this for six months just to risk our health now. I’ve just got to sit here (at home) until we can reach some kind of compromise.”

Suzanne said she was told by Ireland’s social worker that the school would allow her to wear a mask and require Ireland’s one-to-one teaching assistant to wear one also.

Despite this, Suzanne told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that her children were not allowed to wear masks.

Rebekah Phillips, headteacher at Woodchurch High School, said: “The school is following national guidelines, as set by [the] government. To that end, we have completed risk assessments and these have been submitted to the relevant external bodies.

“At this stage, in line with government guidelines, the school is able to exercise discretion on the wearing of face masks. We have therefore made an informed decision that the routine wearing of face coverings is not required, as the school is not situated in a high risk area at this tim0e, and thus not subject to a ‘local lockdown’.”

Ms Phillips said the health and safety of pupils was at the top of the school’s priority list as children returned.

She added: “We will continue to follow government guidelines and make adjustments and changes as necessary and as directed, for the safety and well-being of all in our community. Sadly, however, one parent has chosen to remove her children from the school.

“Nevertheless, school is delighted with the phenomenally high level of attendance today, and the tremendous support from our families.

“The health and safety of our children remains paramount, together with the safeguarding of their education.”