Secondary schools MUST run on-site Covid testing when pupils return after ...

Secondary schools MUST run on-site Covid testing when pupils return after ...
Secondary schools MUST run on-site Covid testing when pupils return after ...

Secondary schools must prepare to run on-site Covid testing when pupils return after the Christmas holidays, it was revealed yesterday.

The Department for Education (DfE) has emailed headteachers, telling them to conduct asymptomatic testing in early 2022.

The measure is designed to reduce transmission ‘after a period of social mixing’ over the festive break.

The DfE acknowledged it was a ‘significant ask’, giving schools less than three full working days to order the lateral flow testing kits they will need.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) attacked the lateness of the announcement, as well as the extra pressure it places on secondaries.

Secondary schools must prepare to run on-site Covid testing when pupils return after the Christmas holidays, it was revealed yesterday (stock image)

Secondary schools must prepare to run on-site Covid testing when pupils return after the Christmas holidays, it was revealed yesterday (stock image)

It accused the government of treating schools as ‘an ad hoc branch of the NHS’, by expecting them to ‘handle the logistics of staffing and setting up testing stations’.

The DfE email to schools said: ‘We would like all secondary schools to prepare to test their pupils once on-site on return in January.

‘We understand that this is a significant additional ask but testing continues to play a vital role in keeping Covid-19 out of schools.

‘Testing all pupils in school boosts testing participation and will help reduce transmission after a period of social mixing over the school holidays.

‘Tests, PPE and funding to support your workforce will be provided as before. After this test on return, pupils should continue to test in line with government guidelines.’

To enable testing on return in January, schools have been told they will need to order sufficient testing kits by Tuesday.

The email - seen by the Times Educational Supplement - asks schools to order home testing kits.

It added: ‘Please check your test kit stock levels and make an order of test kits so that both staff and students are able to test over the holiday period if required, and for the first week of January, using home test kits.’

Headteachers have also been told that Ofsted will not carry out inspections during the first week of schools’ return in January unless the watchdog has significant concerns.

To enable testing on return in January, schools have been told they will need to order sufficient lateral flow testing kits (pictured) by Tuesday

To enable testing on return in January, schools have been told they will need to order sufficient lateral flow testing kits (pictured) by

read more from dailymail.....

NEXT In news vacuum, rumours and concern swirl over Catherine mogaznewsen