Pupils in some areas of Greater Manchester will carry on wearing face masks after May 17 amid Covid variant While nationally masks are being scrapped in classrooms, it won't be the case in all areas Updated Pupils in some areas of Greater Manchester will carry on wearing face masks in the classroom after May 17 (stock image) (Image: Getty Images) Pupils in some areas of Greater Manchester will carry on wearing face masks in the classroom after May 17. While masks are being scrapped in secondary schools and colleges nationally, that won't be the case everywhere because of concerns over the Indian variant.