Eight hundred pupils navigating narrow corridors. It’s easy to see why social distancing was never going to work at Springburn Academy in the north of Glasgow.

They’ve been using hand sanitiser at the doors since the school reopened on 11 August.

Now they’ve added face masks too. Teachers standing by with spares for those without.

But considering it’s only day one, there’s exceptionally high levels of compliance with the new coronavirus rules.

All students and staff must wear face coverings in communal areas; the library, toilets, corridors and stairwells.

Like no talking, or no running, “face masks on” is the latest teacher warning.

Once inside classrooms, they can be removed.

It’s fairly spaced out during lessons, and face masks would make learning and teaching much harder.

For more hands on, practical subjects, like music, it’s a bit trickier.

Pupils playing keyboards, guitars, and drums, need much closer instruction.

There’s no singing at the moment, making life hard for those with exams in the subject coming up.

Like all schools returning after months in lockdown, Springburn Academy has worked hard to make huge changes.

They’ve brought in a staggered start to reduce the morning rush.

Corridors are one-way, as are staircases.

And doors are left open during lessons to increase ventilation.

But even with these measures, when the lesson bell rings, there’s still a squeeze as students change classrooms.

That’s why they don’t really mind the face mask rules.

Most students, by now, are used to wearing them inside shops.

And they’re glad of a little more reassurance transmission risks are being lowered.

Some even saw it coming.

One pupil said he expected this would happen, he just hadn’t realised it would be so soon after the start of term.

This is though, the new normal, the latest addition to the Scottish school uniform.

Pupils have been told that compulsory face coverings are here to stay.

At Springburn, they’re okay with that.

As one student put it: “It’s a bit uncomfy at first, but I’m glad we’re wearing them if it makes us safer.”

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