Rapid virus tests for schools

EVERY secondary school and college in Lancashire will be given access to rapid coronavirus tests from next month, the Government has announced.

Students will not need to self-isolate if another student or staff member tests positive in their “bubble” if they agree to be tested once a day in the new year, the Department for Education (DfE) said.

Building on the success of testing pilots in schools and colleges over the past few months, from January all staff in secondary schools and colleges will be eligible for weekly rapid tests as part of an initial rollout but they will also be offered daily testing if they are identified as a close contact.

It is hoped the change in guidance will improve attendance and ensure young people can benefit from face-to-face teaching as much as possible.

Under current guidelines, up to a whole school bubble has to self-isolate if one student or staff member tests positive.

But from January, students will be eligible for daily testing for seven days if they are identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

Those in the same bubble will not need to self-isolate if they agree to be tested once a day.

The tests will require the consent of parents, students or school staff, the DfE has said.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “This huge expansion of rapid testing for those working in education is a milestone moment in our work to keep schools and colleges open for all.”

But the National Education Union (NEU) said it was “ridiculous” for schools to start preparing for the rollout of testing in the final week of term with “almost zero notice”.

Test kits will begin arriving at secondary schools and colleges for the first phase of rollout to staff from the first week of January.

Hamid Patel, chief executive of Star Academies, an academy trust with schools participating in the autumn testing trials, said it was a “game-changer for the sector”.

He added: “Attendance has improved as fewer close contacts have been required to self-isolate. Parents who may have been wavering have gained confidence to send their children to school, and staff have been reassured by the availability of testing.”