In a letter on Friday,headmaster Tony George said the school had a legal obligation to comply with public health orders,but as the school was independent,it could work within those orders to develop its guidelines that suited its academic,character,co-curricular and community programs.
“It is important to note that the NSW Education Department guidelines are primarily intended for NSW public schools,” he said. “The King’s School seriously considers all the advice and guidelines provided by all relevant authorities … it is the Public Health Orders that provide the express direction to independent schools.
“It is these orders that inform the school in discharging its responsibility to develop a return to school road map for our school in the context of our diverse geographic footprint,our educational programs and our significant boarding operations.”
A NSW Education spokesperson said a student’s parent or carer will be notified if a student does not have a reasonable excuse for wearing a mask,or is refusing to wear one,“requiring them to be taken home and permitted to return to school when wearing a mask”.
The majority of Sydney independent schools contacted by theHerald are following the NSW Education guidelines and mandating masks for secondary students.