This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Face coverings in schools'.


 
 
 
Public Accountability Unit 
   
Wellington House 
 
133-155 Waterloo Road 
 
London SE1 8UG 
www.gov.uk/phe  
 
By email 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
 
Our ref: 07/04/kl/054 
06 May 2021 
Dear Margaret Johnson, 
  
 
Re: Data provided by PHE regarding face coverings in schools 
 
Thank you for your request received on 7 April 2021 addressed to Public Health 
England (PHE). In accordance with Section 1(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information 
Act 2000 (the Act), I can confirm that PHE does hold the information you have 
specified.  
 
Request 
 
Yesterday guidance was issued by the DfE to schools in England to extend the 
'guidance' for children to wear masks in schools and classrooms, de facto 
making it mandatory for children to do so. Ministers and representatives of the 
DfE have repeatedly stated that this was on the advice of PHE, whilst 
repeatedly failing to reveal the specifics of this advice. I would like to see the 
following information used when reaching the conclusion that this was 
necessary, proportionate and likely to be effective in addressing Covid 19: 
 
- specific data provided by PHE when making their recommendation to DfE. 
- specific details and report provided by PHE to the DfE in making the 
recommendation to you. 
- the feedback gathered from stakeholders in reviewing the success and costs 
of this measure between March and Easter. 
- Data for the same. 
- Anecdotal feedback for the same. 
- Data and study evidence that face masks in classrooms are an effective 
measure in controlling Covid 19. 
- Any other factor considered in your 'review' of this measure between March 
and Easter. 
- The report providing details of the 'review' of face masks in schools between 
March and Easter, including full details of risks and benefits considered and 
the data behind these. 
 
Response 
 
 
 

PHE can confirm that it does hold information on the data and evidence provided by 
PHE to support the Department of Education (DfE) review of their policy on the use 
of face coverings in secondary school classrooms. However, the information is 
exempt under section 21 of the Act because it is reasonably accessible by other 
means, and the terms of the exemption mean that we do not have to consider 
whether or not it would be in the public interest for you to have the information. For 
your convenience, we have collated the following information. 
 
•  The R value and growth rate  
o  The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of Coronavirus 
(COVID-19) (data as of 26 March) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-r-
value-and-growth-
rate#:~:text=The%20R%20range%20for%20England,as%20of%2026%20
March%202021. 
 
 
•  Population prevalence data, by age group 
o  Data from the Office of National Statistics Coronavirus (COVID-19) 
Infection Survey, UK: 26 March (data available for the week ending 20th of 
March) 
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialca
re/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/
26march2021 
 
 
•  Data from Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 testing  
o  PHE Weekly Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance graphs (data from 
week 11, between 15 and 21 March 2021) 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa
ds/attachment_data/file/973176/Weekly_COVID-
19_and_Influenza_Surveillance_Graphs_W12.pdf 
(particularly Slides 19 - 
31) 
 
•  Data on outbreaks in schools 
o  PHE Weekly Influenza and COVID-19 Surveillance graphs (data from 
week 11, between 15 and 21 March 2021), see Slides 14-16 
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa
ds/attachment_data/file/973176/Weekly_COVID-
19_and_Influenza_Surveillance_Graphs_W12.pdf 
 (particularly Slides 13 – 
17)  
 
•  Published literature and other evidence  
o  COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey Round 2, England: December 2020 
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialca
re/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/covid19schoolsinfectionsurveyround2e
ngland/december2020 
 
o  McMaster Living Rapid Evidence Review Update 14: What is the specific 
role of daycares and schools in COVID-19 
transmission?  https://www.nccmt.ca/covid-19/covid-19-rapid-evidence-
service/19 
 


 
PHE is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), 
and a distinct organisation with operational autonomy. PHE provide government, 
local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based 
professional, scientific expertise and support. PHE does not set policy or legislation. 
Although PHE does provide scientific evidence support to the central government in 
the response to COVID-19, PHE is one of many departments, organisations and 
academic partners providing scientific advice to the central government.  
 
Under section 16, a public authority has a duty to provide advice and assistance. 
Accordingly, you may wish to contact the DfE for further information on what 
scientific evidence was considered in the policy review on the use of face coverings 
in secondary school classrooms. 
 
If you have any queries regarding the information that has been supplied to you, 
please refer your query to me in writing in the first instance. If you remain dissatisfied 
and would like to request an internal review, then please contact us at the address 
above or by emailing xxx@xxx.xxx.xx.  
 
Please note that you have the right to an independent review by the Information 
Commissioner’s Office if a complaint cannot be resolved through the PHE 
complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner’s Office can be contacted by 
calling the ICO’s helpline on 0303 123 1113, visiting the ICO’s website at 
www.ico.org.uk or writing to the ICO at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, 
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. 
 
Yours sincerely  
FOI Team