Plans could see mass testing rolled out to schools
PLANS to roll out rapid asymptomatic coronavirus tests in schools are being actively considered by the Welsh Government.
Head teachers said the tests, which return results in as little as 30 minutes, could help stop the need to send whole year groups home to self isolate when one case is confirmed. A programme of asymptomatic testing for university students across Wales is due to start before the end of the month and that may now be extended to schools.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “All our universities are piloting asymptomatic testing using Lateral Flow Devices and we are considering wider use for these devices across a range of areas, including schools.
“In the recent update to the testing priorities for Wales, education and childcare staff were given priority status.”
Keith Maher, head teacher at Pen y Dre High in Merthyr Tydfil, one of the areas of highest infection rates and where the first mass testing programme in Wales is due to begin this weekend, said schools in the area are working together to try to help slow the spread of the virus.
Separate asymptomatic testing of pupils in schools would help bolster that.
The Welsh Government’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) has advised ministers to consider asymptomatic tests in schools after new evidence that coronavirus is more likely to spread among schoolchildren than first thought.
In its evidence review into Covid-19 and children under the age of 18 the TAG said: “Consideration should be given to exploring the feasibility of mass asymptomatic testing programmes in school and college settings to enhance infection control and maintain confidence of students, parents and staff.
“The development of any testing programme should take into consideration background infection rates, the full spectrum of available testing technologies, the context of community testing and balance of strategic priority and testing capacity.”
Who would carry out the tests and how could be a problem especially with the NHS in Wales already gearing up for a vaccination programme to start before Christmas.
Mr Maher, who, like other heads, has had to send pupils home to self isolate after confirmed cases, added: “School leaders in Merthyr Tydfil are working together with the local authority and other stakeholders to explore further ways of mitigating the impact and spread of the Covid-19 virus.
“All school leaders want to see the reproduction rate (commonly known as the R rate) continue to fall in the county and more widely. We would certainly support any mass testing programme being rolled out, if that is the recommendation from Welsh Government’s Technical and Advisory Group.”
Huw Powell, headteacher of Mary Immaculate High in Wenvoe, echoed this view: “I think schools would make it work. Having the pupils on site daily, large facilities and supervision means it is very possible. We already do this for HPV vaccinations every year anyway.
“The challenge would be from the health service I think regarding staffing.”
David Evans, Wales Secretary for the National Education Union, said he believed his members would support asymptomatic testing of pupils.
“Teachers want to keep schools open and are concerned about the attainment gap with some pupils missing more school than others thanks to Covid”, he said.
“We have to look at every opportunity we have got to get us out of this.
“If mass asymptomatic testing can work, and could prevent whole year groups having to go home, let’s try to do it.
“Any testing would need to first target higher areas of infection rates and older year groups, where there is more likely to be transmission.
“Any plans would also need to look at who is able to administer the tests.
They would have to be done by professionally trained people, so that’s not going to be teaching staff. Clearly it would need to be a well planned operation.”
Mr Evans said feedback from NEU Cymru members is that they want schools to stay open. They understand there is a risk but, although remote teaching has improved it was no subsitute for face to face learning.
Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru agreed mass rapid Covid testing “could be an extremely useful weapon in keeping schools open”.
But she warned schools are already under pressure.
“Mass testing would have logistical implications over how these programmes would be staffed and managed at scale. Schools are already under immense pressure dealing with the existing Covid protocols and there isn’t any spare capacity to take on extra responsibilities.
“So, the delivery of mass testing would have to be carefully worked out to ensure that it is practical and possible.”
Rebecca Williams Deputy General Secretary and Policy Officer for teaching union UCAC said “testing would certainly be helpful - particularly if we now believe that younger children who may be asymptomatic themselves could still be spreading the virus, both within schools and within families andcommunities.”
ALL secondary school pupils may have to wear masks under new, stricter guidance being considered by Welsh Government.
At the moment wearing masks is recommended, but not compulsory in high schools. In the summer the Welsh Government said it was up to local councils and schools to decide and most have told pupils to wear masks in communal areas and on school transport.
This may now be strengthened with one national rule on masks after new scientific evidence showed the virus is more likely to spread among pupils than first thought. Teaching unions have also said they would welcome a national approach.
Head teachers and councils said compliance is already high, although teaching union UCAC said there is a “mixed picture”.
One head teacher said rather than strengthening guidance on wearing masks, the powers to enforce that rule should be ramped up.“
The measures do not need any further strengthening. Schools at the moment cannot send pupils home for continuously failing to wear a face covering, maybe the powers that schools have to enforce the wearing of face covering could be strengthened,” said Neil Foley, head of Prestatyn High.
Most councils said their schools had not reported problems getting pupils to comply with requests to wear masks but there have been some issues.
Merthyr council said: “There has been some communication with parents who are concerned that the wearing of face coverings is a breach of human rights.”
Head teachers also reported that most pupils have worn masks and understand why they need to.
Rebecca Davies, deputy general
secretary and policy officer for teaching union UCAC, said a national ruling on masks in schools would be welcome.
She warned it was also unclear what is happening around Wales on school transport and that national guidance was also needed on ventilation and social distancing in schools.
David Blackwell, head of St Richard Gwyn Catholic High in Barry, said while his pupils are sticking to the rules on masks national guidance could help enforce the message about how important it is.
“All pupils, apart from those that are exempt, are required to wear them in all corridors and communal indoor areas,” he said.
“There are a small number who forget or wear them incorrectly, but we rarely see any problems when they are challenged about this.
“Although we are seeing little challenge enforcing these rules, it is always helpful if there is a standard national approach to matters of this nature, it simply adds weight to the rules that we are enforcing.
“The biggest challenge we find is that we are providing a number of masks each day to pupils who forget, lose or break their masks.”
Across Wales at Prestatyn High all pupils are asked to wear face coverings in communal areas and on school transport but are not asked to wear them in class, in the yard or in the canteen.
Head teacher Neil Foley said: “Compliance is high, the vast majority of pupils have no problem wearing them. A small number have to be reminded, these are the same pupils that need reminding over their uniform. We regularly supply lots of disposable masks to pupils as they lose or break them. I would say over 80% of our pupils use their own personalised mask or face covering.
“It is not hard to enforce, it just means that we have lots of staff on corridors checking and insisting. “The measures do not need any further strengthening. Schools at the moment cannot send pupils home for continuously failing to wear a face covering, maybe the powers that schools have to enforce the wearing of face covering could be strengthened? “I do not believe it would work having all pupils wear masks in classrooms – pupils need to be able to be heard. They need to be comfortable during an hour lesson, I for one would not like to have a mask on for five one-hour lessons per day.” Julian Kennedy, head of Dyffryn Taf High in Carmarthenshire, said: “Compliance from pupils in my school has been excellent at Dyffryn Taf and all the heads I have spoken with have reported the same.
“I would welcome a national rule based upon clearly understood and shared scientific evidence, but the Carmarthenshire Association of Secondary Heads also provides an excellent forum for making decisions at county level in partnership with the local authority.”
Cardiff council last week handed out a further 45,000 masks to pupils.
It said on its website: “45,000 additional face coverings are being provided to secondary schools this week to help pupils keep themselves and their school communities safe when they return for the remainder of the autumn term.
“This is in addition to the 45,000 face coverings which the council provided to secondary schools at the beginning of September and means that pupils can replace any lost or damaged face coverings with new ones. The council strongly recommends that all secondary school pupils wear face coverings when in communal areas or where social distancing cannot be observed.
“The sorting and delivery of the masks was coordinated by the Central Stores Team in Dominions Way.”
National Education Union Cymru’s Wales Secretary, David Evans, said: “We would be supportive of young people wearing face coverings in schools.
“We know we are in a different place with the virus than we were in September, and believe that every measure should be put in place to make schools as safe as possible.
“At this point we believe it would be beneficial if there were a national approach.”
Neil Butler, Wales National Secretary for the NASUWT, said: “What we want is some consistency with the rest of society. Face coverings are compulsory in shops, so why not in classrooms where there can be no social distancing?
“However, this is a diversion from the real issue, which is that issue of social distancing which we know is the most important guard against the spread of the virus.
“We need to reduce the number of learners in school settings. We still need the time and space for teachers to develop blended learning approaches so that some learners can access their education through distance-learning methods.
“We know that face coverings are not the panacea so whatever the minister decides the issue of overcrowded classrooms still needs to be addressed.”
The National Association of Headteachers Cymru said clear guidance must be given to schools.
Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru director, said: “A decision on the health benefits of face coverings must be taken by the government and clear guidance must be given to schools as to what they need to do, when such coverings need to be worn and what kind of coverings are required.”
Face coverings are compulsory in shops, so why not in classrooms where there can be no social distancing? Neil Butler of NASUWT