15 December 2021
Dear Parent/Carer,
School re-opening in January 2022 and COVID-19 Lateral flow testing on site
I hope you and your families are safe and well.
A key part of the Government’s plans for a safe return to school in January is the mass testing of all secondary students and staff prior to their return to the classroom using ‘lateral flow tests’.
Lateral flow test frequently asked questions (FAQs):
How many lateral flow tests will students have?
Year 7-13 students will be tested once. After this test, parent/carers will be provided with home testing kits (by the school) which should be used twice weekly. No further tests will be carried out at school.
Do I need to provide consent for my child/ren to have lateral flow tests?
Yes. Consent provided earlier in the pandemic will still apply (and does not need to be provided again), but for those who have not previously done so, consent forms should be completed online using this link: https://tinyurl.com/2dw39y54 . For students younger than 16 years, consent must be provided by the parent/carer. Students over 16 can complete this form themselves, having discussed participation with their parent/carer if under 18.
Is testing compulsory?
No, testing is not compulsory, but it is strongly advised. This is about the safety of all of our students, their family members and staff. If students come to school who have COVID-19 asymptomatically, this can lead to other students and staff becoming ill, impacting on everybody’s safety and the education of large numbers of students.
What is involved in a lateral flow test?
These tests involve students taking their own swabs whilst trained staff oversee the process and analyse the results. Results are obtained after about half an hour, so the whole process takes roughly 45 minutes, including registration. You can find more information about this type of test using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-lateral-flow-antigen-testing-for-people-without-symptoms
What do I do if my child has COVID-19 symptoms?
Mass testing in schools is for asymptomatic cases of the virus only. If your child is displaying symptoms of COVID-19, they must not attend school until they have received a negative test result from the more reliable external PCR test. Your family must continue to follow NHS and government guidance on self-isolation and testing where symptoms of COVID are present.
If in any doubt, please keep your child off school and get an external PCR test at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/
The schedule below shows the provisional dates and times that students should arrive for their testing. Any changes to the schedule will be communicated to you. All students should arrive wearing a face covering unless your child is exempt. When your child arrives at school, they should make their way to the Sports Centre. Please note the table below shows the time your child should arrive, at which point they will be directed to the testing centre.
Once your child has tested and they have received their result they can return home. If your child tests positive, a member of staff will contact you.
|
Day |
Students in school |
Plan for testing |
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|
Tuesday 4th Jan |
Y7, 8, 11 and 13 to arrive for testing as per the schedule. Students will return home after testing.
Remote Learning will be provided for all students. |
|
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Wednesday 5th Jan |
Y7, 8, 11 and 13 in school all day.
Y9, 10 and 12 to arrive for testing as per the schedule. Y9, 10 and 12 students will return home after testing.
Remote Learning will be provided for Y9, 10 and 12. |
|
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Thursday 6th Jan |
All students in school. |
Home testing only. |
Thank you for your continued support. I am sure that by working together we can continue to keep our community as safe as possible. If you have any questions about the content of this letter, please contact enquiry@bishopchalloner.bham.sch.uk .
Wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas.
Kind regards
Dr J Coughlan
Principal