Portsmouth College principal slams government over timing of phased return announcement

Last week the government announced that apart from Year 11 and 13 students, the majority pupils will learn via online lessons for the first week of term to allow headteachers time to implement plans for the mass Covid testing of teachers and pupils.

However after being informed 24 hours before the end of term, Portsmouth College principal, Simon Barrable, has questioned whether it can be delivered in such a short time frame.

Mr Barrable said: ‘The ability to test staff and students is a welcome, if overdue development. The timing of the announcement is terrible - one day before the end of term. It severely curtails our ability to get all this in place for January 4.’

Mr Barrable’s comments follow on from similar concerns voiced by Priory School headteacher Stewart Vaughan and the National Education Union.

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The staggered return will affect secondary schools and colleges across the county.

A Hampshire County Council spokesman said: ‘While we have received some early high-level information as to how the mass testing programme might work, it is too early to be clear on what this means in detail for Hampshire schools.

‘As further information emerges, we will ensure our school communities - headteachers, governing bodies and parents are kept fully informed – and we will support our schools in any way we can with this process.’