education

‘A disaster in waiting’: Teachers desperately search for answers over school Covid testing in January amid fury over late notice

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Angry teachers across the country have condemned the government’s plans to administer Covid-19 tests to pupils in January, lamenting the “rushed and poorly thought-through” timing of the announcement which they say represents “an enormous disrespect for the profession”.

School leaders and headteachers were still waiting on Friday for more guidance – despite many schools having broken up for Christmas – over exactly how testing will work and templates for parental consent letters, both of which are expected to come out next week.  

Despite many school leaders being unable to take a break since March, in a year that has seen schools forced to rapidly adapt to online lessons and a grading fiasco that prompted the resignation of the exams regulator chief, most will now be left to work out the plans over the holidays – with less than three weeks to go until pupils return.

One multi-academy trust has turned down the offer of mass testing, saying what was being asked of schools was “a step too far”, according to a letter – seen by The Independent – its chief executive sent to Gavin Williamson on Friday.

Meanwhile, a group of education unions have told secondary schools and colleges they were not obliged to go ahead with mass testing plans, amid concerns they were “undeliverable” within the timeframe and while there were “numerous outstanding issues”.

On Thursday, the government announced even more testing would be made available to secondary schools and colleges in England from the first week of January to facilitate the return to school, on top of a new rapid testing scheme announced on Tuesday.

Mr Williamson said the “targeted testing round will clamp down on the virus” following the Christmas break “and help stop the spread of Covid-19 in the wider community”. 

“Building on the fantastic actions that schools and colleges have already taken to be as safe as possible, this additional testing will catch those who have the virus but are not showing symptoms to help schools and colleges stay in control of the virus throughout the spring term,” the education secretary said.

Also on Thursday, a staggered return for secondaries and colleges was announced to help headteachers roll out mass testing of students, with exam years, vulnerable children and key workers’ children to go back as normal on 4 January, while others have remote learning. All students are expected back by 11 January.

However, the timing of these announcements has angered school leaders, falling right at the end of term for many, and with just weeks to go before the new one starts.

“I think it is entirely consistent with the way in which it has communicated with schools throughout the pandemic,” headteacher Kieran McLaughlin told The Independent.

“Rushed, poorly thought-through and without any sense of how schools operate,” the Durham School leader said. “A disaster in waiting.”

Nick Gibb, the schools minister, has defended the timing, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday: “This is a fast-moving pandemic. We had to take action at pace.” 

However, headteacher Andy Byers said: “I feel that the timing of the latest announcements beggars belief, coming after some schools have closed for Christmas or in the last two days of term for others.”

He said planning for online lessons was “time-consuming”, and said schools lacked capacity to plan and administer tests, with his school having “neither the space nor the staff”. 

“I have never known anger in the profession like this,” the Framwellgate School Durham leader told The Independent. “The Department for Education has lost my trust and every single headteacher I have spoken to.”

One teacher, who wished to stay anonymous, said people felt questions on the logistics of how schools were going to manage the mass testing were “largely ignored” on a webinar on Friday, and there was a general feeling of “frustration” afterwards. 

“I think people have no idea what we’re doing,” the teacher said. “We’re meant to be doing something on 4 January. We have no indication whatsoever as to what it’s going to look like, and who’s going to be doing it.”

Schools minister Mr Gibb has said the tests will be administered by volunteers and agency staff, rather than teachers, and further details on how it will work will be published next week.

The Independent understands the DfE will also be providing a template letter asking parents or carers to give consent for coronavirus testing next week as well.

One multi-academy trust – which has three secondary schools and four primary schools across Staffordshire and Derbyshire – has rejected the offer of mass testing, according to a letter seen by The Independent.

Ian McNeilly, the chief executive of The de Ferrers Trust, wrote to Mr Williamson on Friday to say he agrees with the “general concept” of testing all secondary-age pupils from 4 January – but listed all the arrangements that would need to be made on the last working day of the year or over Christmas for this to happen.

“Since March 2020, my members of staff have done everything that has been asked of them and considerably more in hugely challenging circumstances,” he wrote. “What you are asking for now is a step too far.”

Headteacher Gareth Doodes said the announcement of the January testing “shows an enormous disrespect for the teaching profession”.

“Many school leaders haven’t had a break since March, and although the fight against Covid is a national effort, to land such a major change on schools at the 11th hour just as teachers have departed for their holidays and school offices are shutting is risible,” the King’s School, Worcester, headteacher told The Independent

Meanwhile, Tony Rushworth said it “wasn’t ideal” to learn about the testing plans “so late in the term” – although he welcomed the idea, as it means fewer students having to self-isolate.

The Bicester School headteacher said he spent Friday morning in school “trying to work out a plan for testing as far as we could with the information currently available”.

Education unions have told secondary schools and colleges they are not obliged to carry out mass testing from the start of next term, saying there were concerns plans were “not deliverable” by that date, with around two weeks left to plan for it over the Christmas break.

They said in a joint statement: “There are a number of unanswered questions including exactly what staff are expected to do, and what costs will be covered by the government, which have to be resolved before testing can begin.”

Guidance tells schools they should organise a small team to help manage the testing plans – which The Independent understands is to help with logistics. Mr Gibb confirmed today teachers would not be expected to administer tests, telling Sky News they “already have their hands full in terms of the education side”.

The unions – including the Association for School and College Leaders and the National Education Union – sent joint advice to their members on Friday, saying: “If a school or college decides it is unable to set up such testing systems, based on the current plans, you will receive the full support of our respective organisations.”

A DfE spokesperson 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.”

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