A SCHOOL leaders' union has recommended all secondary pupils and staff adopt the policy of wearing face coverings in communal spaces.
In a message to members, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said it would be "prudent" for masks to be used more widely.
At present, guidance in England extends to schools in local lockdown areas only.
Mr Whiteman wants England to follow Northern Ireland where all adults and students must keep their noses and mouths covered in school corridors.
The official guidance to limit the spread of coronavirus comes into effect next week when schools reopen on a full-time basis.
Education Minister Peter Weir said his key priority was that pupils returned to classrooms as soon as it is safe to do so.
Mr Weir had previously said he was not recommending face coverings be worn by young people. The change in guidance followed further advice received from Stormont's chief medical and scientific officers. Some schools including Belfast Royal Academy have gone further and said that its pupils will not be allowed to enter classrooms unless they are wearing a face covering.
In the latest u-turn by the UK Government, updated guidance issued on Tuesday evening said coverings should be worn in communal areas of schools with students in Year 7 and above which are in areas with coronavirus restrictions.
It followed pressure from teaching unions, which urged clarity before pupils return to school next week, and an announcement from Scotland that all secondary students there will be required to wear masks in between lessons.
The change in the north, which the Department of Education clarified "covers all adults and pupils in post-primary schools" was also announced on Tuesday evening.
Mr Whiteman said many school leaders felt as though the UK government had "passed the buck and handed the difficult decision over to them".
"We will continue to lobby the government to take a clear and unambiguous line on this. In the meantime, NAHT's advice is that it would be prudent for secondary schools to ask pupils and staff to wear face coverings in corridor and communal spaces unless there is a compelling reason not to," he said.
"Erring on the side of caution would seem a sensible approach to take given the information coming out of the WHO (World Health Organisation)."
Meanwhile, students and staff at Ulster University have been told to wear masks in lectures and classes when the new term begins.
It told students in an email that it was making the move "to protect others and to support a safe university community for all".
Disposable and reusable face coverings will be supplied.
Queen's University Belfast had already said masks would be mandatory on parts of its campus.
