Schools ‘staggered’ by latest Covid testing demands
School leaders in the West Midlands feel as if they have been "left behind and forgotten" by last minute demands on them to have mass testing schemes in place in schools by January.
On December 15, just days before term ended for Christmas, the Department of Education announced "that teachers and pupils will have access to rapid testing from the start of the new school term", posing yet another challenge for staff to face.
This includes daily testing of students and weekly tests of secondary school and college staff.
A number of head teachers have said they only found out about the government's plan through the BBC news app and had no prior contact from the Department of Education or Government.
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Nicola Mason, head teacher at Chase Terrace Academy in Burntwood, has said that she is 'at a loss' for how the school will be able to facilitate the enormous scale of testing before school returns on January 4.
She said: "I am staggered, I don't have the words, we have been let down by the government.
"It is a huge volume of work and it has not been considered, there is also the issue of space as we have to keep students in separate areas already, and now we are expected to have a large testing facility and volunteers on site.
Rushed
"I have spent most of my day trying to get some sort of order, but the Government is just saying details will follow and an update should be issued next week.
"How are we going to get 1,300 children tested each day, while doing remote learning, looking after vulnerable children, children of key workers and plan lessons before January?
"It has just been so rushed and not well thought out enough, I know teachers would welcome more testing and safer practises but in a better organised way."
Ms Mason is also concerned about the impact that the added uncertainty will have on the mental health of staff, students and parents over Christmas.
She added: "Our staff have put so many hours in and have worked flat out since Easter and summer to do what is best for the children, they were hoping for some respite over Christmas to spend some time with their families, but now they are left with even more worries and uncertainty.
"There has been a significant increase in the number of mental health issues for students and staff, I really think teachers have been forgotten about.
"Students are so worried too, especially year 11 and year 13, they just want to be back at school to learn and also for the social aspect too.
"I also feel for the parents as I haven't spoken to them yet as I have no details myself.
"I love my job, and I wouldn't change what I have learnt during the pandemic, it is a privilege to work with these children and lead my staff, but this uncertainty is putting good teachers off and they are exhausted.
"I genuinely don't know how we will do this."
A Department for Education spokesman said: “Testing on this scale means more children, teachers and staff can stay in their schools and colleges without the need to self-isolate.
“Schools and colleges taking part in asymptomatic testing will help identify positive cases, break chains of transmission and reassure parents and teachers about returning to school and college for the spring term.
“We do not underestimate the challenges involved and scale of delivering this, which is why a cross-government operation is being mobilised to support schools and colleges.”
