School standards minister Nick Gibb ‘hugely’ impressed with school’s Covid testing system and optimistic about pupil return

Mr Gibb was speaking during a visit to St Edmund’s Catholic School which has already tested 800 children ahead of the the March 8 return.

He said: ‘I’m hugely impressed with the testing system at St Edmund’s. The test will identify children who are not showing symptoms and prevent the virus from being spread.

‘I’m optimistic that when children return this time it will be for good, although as set out in the roadmap, on April 12 we will be looking at the impact and making sure transmission rates are still reducing before moving on to the next stage. We will not be taking any risks.’

On the decision not to stagger the return of pupils Mr Gibb said: ‘We looked at all the options and the decision was made based on the advice of Public Health England. We want all pupils back as education has always been our priority. That’s why schools were the last to close and will be first to open.’

Children will undertake three lateral flow tests over the first two weeks with teachers, a selection of parents and even past students having been trained in facilitating the tests. Five medical testing bays and processing stations have been set up at the school.

According to headteacher Simon Graham the school is now ‘processing 17 tests every 15 minutes’.

Mr Graham added: ‘It was a mammoth task to set everything up and get people trained. We have so far had 94 per cent uptake of tests. This is a good response and reflects that people in the community are really behind getting children back to school.’

After initial in-school testing, children and families will then be expected to be responsible for carrying out the twice weekly tests at home and informing the school of any positive results. The home testing kits have not yet been delivered to the school.

While there are reservations about the potential reliability of children testing at home, Year 7 pupils Nicola Prus, Bella Doan and Isabel Brand, feel much more confident having experienced their first test.

SEE ALSO: School starts testing students to prepare for return to school from March 8

Isabel, 11, said: ‘I found the test very easy to do with clear instructions.’

Bella, 12, said: ‘I was expecting something quite scary but it was actually quite underwhelming – it was fine.’

Nicola, 11, added: ‘The test wasn’t bad at all. When I had the swab in my mouth and up my nose it didn’t hurt. I’m looking forward to returning to school but I’m a bit nervous.’

While Mr Graham is hopeful the mass testing of students will help control transmission of the virus he doesn’t think it will eliminate all disruption.

He said: ‘The testing gives us some level of security for when we return but the reality is we are likely to still have some cases and have to isolate groups of students. As pupils return it’s really important that pupils and families continue to follow the guidelines to reduce the wider spread in the community.

‘If people don’t then the reality is more children will be required to learn from home.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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