Thornhill College won BBC NI School Choir of the Year in 2019
Guidance from the Education Authority (EA) had previously said singing was not advised in any school setting, including pre-school.
But the Public Health Agency (PHA) has carried out a review of that guidance and has now said that singing is “acceptable”.
The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) has informed schools of the change.
According to an email sent by ETI to schools, the PHA said singing can take place “in line with risk assessment procedures”.
“Currently there is no evidence that singing activities are of greater risk than any other activities,” the new guidance to schools said.
“In early years setting the benefits of singing would outweigh any potential risks.”
The ETI email also said that advice to schools about singing on the Education Authority website would be updated to reflect the new guidance.
A recent academic study carried out in England suggested that singing did not produce substantially more respiratory particles than speaking at a similar volume.
The study from the University of Bristol did however find that the louder a person sang the more particles were produced.
TOP OF THE CLASS…Mayor Boyle with pupils and teachers from Ebrington Primary School last year
The removal of the ban will be music to the ears of schools in Derry.
Last year, Ebrington Primary School and Thornhill College were named the top senior and junior school choirs in BBC NI School Choir Of The Year 2019.
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