Yesterday afternoon the Department for Education sent an email
advising secondary schools and colleges that they may be required
to set up on-site Asymptomatic Test Sites from the start of the
autumn term. It said: “Schools and colleges may choose to start
testing students and pupils no earlier than three days before the
start of term, or stagger the return of pupils during the first
week of term if they would like to do so.”
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: “It is completely unacceptable for the
Department for Education to tell schools and colleges without any
consultation and in the vaguest terms that they may have to set
up something akin to field hospitals at the start of next term.
There appears to be no understanding of the scale of the
logistical challenge involved in setting up on-site Covid testing
and processing hundreds or thousands of pupils.
“It is extraordinary that the DfE thinks it is okay to give
secondary schools and colleges the invidious choice of asking
pupils to attend for testing before the start of term, or
staggering their return during the first week which will cause
more educational disruption.
“Our understanding is that the intention is that schools and
colleges would be asked to test every pupil twice in on-site
stations. However, this is not explained in yesterday’s
communication, and neither is the apparent plan to then replace
self-isolation of close contacts of positive Covid cases with
daily contact testing next term which was flagged up separately
by the new Health Secretary yesterday.
“It is essential that there is a coherent and robust plan in
place to minimise educational disruption next term and that this
is communicated clearly ahead of the end of this term which is
approaching rapidly. We are increasingly concerned that the
government is once again in chaos over its handling of education
policy in the pandemic and it must get a grip.”
Yesterday’s email from the Department for Education: ‘28 June –
Coronavirus – Update to all early years, children’s social care,
schools and further education providers’, said:
“We want to help education settings to be prepared for all
scenarios, including testing on return after the summer holidays.
We will provide all schools and colleges with refreshed guidance,
test kits, and PPE so that you can be ready to stand up on-site
Asymptomatic Test Sites (ATS) from the start of the autumn term.
We expect to be able to confirm the position alongside
announcements on Step 4.
“Given the uncertainties about the Covid situation we will face
in the autumn, we want to help secondary schools and colleges to
be as prepared as possible for all scenarios, including testing
on return after the summer holidays, if needed. Schools and
colleges may choose to start testing students and pupils no
earlier than three days before the start of term, or stagger the
return of pupils during the first week of term if they would like
to do so. This is voluntary and at the discretion of each school
and college.
“Test kits for ATS will be delivered from Tuesday 29 June to
Friday 23 July. There is no need for you to make separate orders
for this.”
