Confusion over the rules governing face coverings in classrooms is in danger of creating “mask anarchy” in schools in England, a leading Conservative has warned. As schools prepare to welcome all pupils back into class next week, Robert Halfon, who chairs the cross-party Commons education committee, told ministers that head teachers were coming under pressure from parents over masks and called for “definitive regulations” to clear up the issue. According to its latest guidance, the government “recommends” the wearing of face masks in secondary school classrooms where social distancing cannot be maintained, but it is not compulsory, and states: “No pupil or student should be denied education on the grounds that they are not wearing a face covering.” Head teachers, including Vic Goddard, principal of Passmores Academy in Harlow, Essex, which featured in the television series Educating Essex and is situated in Halfon’s constituency, say the issue risks causing conflict because of polarised opinions in school communities. Goddard tweeted: “I adore working for the @PassmoresAc and Harlow community (for over 20 years). It is an utter privilege. Now I am deliberately being put in to conflict with some of it by the actions of this government about masks when they are the ones with the information.” He went on: “Everyone, inc the govt, knows that the issue will cause conflict due to the polarised views held and they are throwing me under the bus. Already had ‘human rights’ quoted, threats of litigation, reporting to Ofsted and to @halfon4harlowMP.” The wearing of masks in classrooms and repeat Covid testing for secondary pupils are key new measures designed to give parents, pupils and teachers confidence when schools fully reopen next week, but that appears to have been undermined when the school standards minister, Nick Gibb, told TV interviewers last week it was not compulsory. The chair of the education committee told the Commons on Monday: “Given that the schools minister said that the wearing of masks by pupils on the school estate is advisory guidance, if a pupil or a parent on behalf of a pupil objects to comply with the wishes of a head teacher to wear a mask, are we not in danger of creating mask anarchy? “Enormous pressure is being put on head teachers in Harlow because of the confusion, like Vic Goddard, head teacher of Harlow Passmores school. Is it not better to come down firmly on one side or another and provide clearly definitive regulations to help teaching staff?” Gibb responded that the wearing of face coverings in classrooms where it is not possible to keep social distances between pupils was “strongly” recommended. Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, also raised concerns about up to half of parents failing to give consent for regular testing of their child and asked whether testing should be made opt-out rather than opt-in. “I welcome the reopening of schools and the long-awaited introduction of school testing, but with parental consent required, some schools are unable to test up to half of their pupils, putting their peers and families at avoidable risk. “Given the importance of school testing, shouldn’t it be opt-out rather than opt-in, ensuring a far greater number of pupils are tested whilst retaining a parent’s right to choose?” Gibb responded: “We do give very clear guidance, we do expect … parents to give permission to the school to allow their secondary school pupils to be tested twice a week. This is an important initiative that helps to minimise the risk of transmission within the secondary school estate.”