Logistical challenge of mass Covid-19 testing makes Shirebrook's return to school timetable uncertain

Mark Cottingham, principal of Shirebrook Academy, said that there is still plenty of work to do before he is able to give parents firm dates about when their children can come back into school for face-to-face learning.

PM Boris Johnson has announced that students will be able to return to school next week in the first step of the country’s road map out of the current lockdown.

However, although he welcomed the news, Mr Cottingham warned that the devil of the return to school plan is in the detail, thanks to the Government’s insistence that schools must carry out asymptomatic testing on students before they are allowed back behind their desks.

The guidance states that all secondary students will take three Covid-19 tests as they return to school, with schools being given discretion as to how they can ensure that students can return to the classroom.

Once the initial programme of three tests in school is completed, students will be provided with two rapid tests to use each week at home.

Mr Cottingham said: “While we share the country’s happiness that students are being allowed to come back to school, we are a long way from understanding how we can carry out the testing that is required of us while getting the school back up and running to its maximum capacity once again.

“We have been testing students on a regular basis at our separate Pine Cone learning facility and we can carry out 40 tests an hour. When you’re talking about 100 students that’s manageable, but we have 170 students in our year 11 group alone, so you’re talking about a four-hour testing window.

“These are significant logistical challenges which we will have to overcome to ensure that this testing – which we also must stress is voluntary – can be carried out with maximum efficiency and safety and minimum fuss.”

Mr Cottingham also praised staff, students and parents for their cooperation and resilience during the current lockdown.