Sleaford schools all set to test key worker students and staff

Since the go-ahead from GOvernment before Christmas, headteacher of the Robert Carre Trust schools, Nick Law said staff have been planning and preparing for the testing in line with government wishes.

Mr Law said: “The senior team met last week, ready to train but we did not yet have the kit.”

They still did not have the kit on Monday but now have all but a few items in place. “We will go ahead with training on Friday meaning we can then offer the lateral flow tests to staff and children of critical workers from next week.

“We will be able to do weekly testing of those staff and students coming into schools.”

Schools have stayed open for face to face teaching of vulnerable children and children of critical workers.

Mr Law said if mass testing goes ahead later they will have a skilled workforce ready to go. “We had a whole bank of volunteers ready to come in on Monday but then had to stand them down. Now we will be using our own support staff.”

Testing will be carried out in specially set up bays in sports halls at the three town secondary schools.

With no such testing being offered to staff and children of key workers at primary schools, some universities are beginning to offer schools local to their area the use of their testing facilities, but Mr Law could not comment on whether such an offer could be made to local primaries due to spare test capacity created by the lockdown.

The Department for Education has also now confirmed that pupils of families without access to a computer, laptop or tablet device will also be classed as ‘vulnerable’ and be eligible to go into school for face to face teaching, despite concerns about whether schools will have the capacity while trying to honour the requirements of the government’s latest lockdown for most people to work and learn from home.

Education Secretary has stated that pupils studying at home should receive three to five hours of high quality remote education per day. this would be enforced by Ofsted.

He said that Year 6 SATs tests will not go ahead, but vocational BTEC and CTEC exams will go ahead as planned if schools and colleges wish, while GCSE and A levels will be replaced by teacher assessments. Ofqual is drawing up methods of drawing upon evidence for grades that may include tests, homework, mock exams and teachers’ observations, with a system of moderation between schools.

In a letter to parents and students from Pearson, which runs the vocational exams, they said: “We will award a grade for any learner who is unable to take their exams and has enough evidence to receive a certificate that they need for progression.

“Learners unable to take their assessment this January may be able to take their assessment at a later date. If that is not possible, we will put in place arrangements to ensure you are not disadvantaged.”

Parents are being advised not to send children on trains and buses to school unless absolutely necessary, but transport will still be available for those that need it. Any pupils needing to use public transport should notify the county council by January 8 if they will be using it from next week.