Stanwell School will not require students to wear masks, the school has informed parents via email.

Nub News is currently unable to confirm whether St Cyres School will be asking its pupils to wear masks.

Stanwell School wrote:

"Pupils may wear masks to school, however, this is not compulsory. We will inform you and the pupils promptly if there is any change to this guidance."

This comes amid nationwide debate over the utility and feasibility of wearing masks in the classrooms and corridors of schools.

Masks are mandatory on school transport in the Vale.

Scotland this week made it mandatory for students to wear masks unless a health issue exempts them.

Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney said the guidance had been updated in line with the WHO, which advises that all children over 12 should don masks.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has ambiguously spoken of a "potential" for masks to be adopted in schools, particularly during localised outbreaks.

Schools in Penarth have introduced a number of measures to keep pupils and their families safe as term begins.

Both St Cyres and Stanwell will be reintroducing pupils steadily, year by year.

Extensive guidance can be found on the websites of both schools.

Nub News asked Lis Burnett, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration, to delineate the council's role in the return to school process.

"Using Welsh Government guidance, we are working with schools to help them develop plans and robust risk assessments that meet their individual needs. Social distancing and hand hygiene are obviously central to this approach," she said.

"Construction firm ISG have also adapted an app from their sites for use in schools in the Vale of Glamorgan. It offers general information and examples on how to introduce social distancing, as well as highlighting good practice in a range of scenarios, such as travelling to school, when in the classroom and other areas.

"The app which is available to staff, parents and pupils, can be accessed by scanning a QR code."