COVID Testing - January 2022

COVID Testing – Tuesday 4 January and Wednesday 5 January 2022

The most recent government guidance requests that all secondary schools prepare to test students on site as part of their return to school.  This is part of the continued effort to reduce covid19 in schools and to help reduce the transmission after a period of social mixing during the holidays.  Students will be offered one test before returning to school in January.  Please find below details of appointment times for each year group and also answers to questions you may have.

We are asking that students complete a lateral flow test the day before they come into school in line with the current guidelines.

Do I have to provide consent again?

Yes please.  We require all students to have consent by completing the attached link. 

https://forms.office.com/r/DrMCKYX725

When is my test?

We found staggering appointment times worked really well previously and so have decided to do the same again for January testing.  The table below shows what time students need to attend school to take their test:

Year 11 Tuesday 4 January 2022                               

Time slot	Surname
8.15 am	A-C
8.30 am	D - G
8.45 am	H – L
9.00 am	M – O
9.15 am	P – R
9.30 am	S – V
9.45 am	W – Z

 

Year 10 Tuesday 4 January 2022

Time slot	Surname
10.00am	A - B
10.15am	C - D
10.30am	E - Ha
10.45am	He - J
11.00am	K - M
11.15am	N - R
11.30am	S
11.45am	T - Z

 

Year 7 - Tuesday 4 January 2022

Time slot	Surname
12.45pm	A - Bo
1pm	Br - C
1.15pm	D - F
1.30pm	G - Hi
1.45pm	Ho - K
2pm	L - M
2.15pm	N – R
2.30pm	S
2.45pm	T - Z

 

Year 9 Wednesday 5 January 2022

Time slot	Surname
8.15 am	A - B
8.30 am	C
8.45 am	D - G
9.00 am	H - I
9.15 am	J - L
9.30 am	M - O
9.45 am	P – Sh
10 am	Si – U
10.15 am	T - Z

 

Year 8 Wednesday 5 January 2022

Time slot	Surname
11am	A - B
11.15am	C
11.30am	D - G
11.45am	H - J
12.30pm	K - O
12.45pm	P – Sa
1pm	Sh – V
1.15pm	W - Z

 

Where should I go?

Students should arrive at school at their allocated time and head to the sports centre carpark. Staff will be there to direct students to the entrance to the Sports Hall, where they will register and take their test. Following their test students will then be allowed into main school to commence lessons.

Y7 students will come into school for their test only and will return to lessons the next day.

What should I wear?

Y8 – Y11 Students should attend in uniform and make sure they have all their equipment ready for their school day.

What happens after the test?

After the test students will go to lessons, except for Y7 who will go home and return to school the next day.  School will only contact students should they test positive for COVID. If we do not contact you then the test result was negative.

Can parents accompany children who are taking tests?

Parents are not required to accompany students to take their test. 

Parents/carers of children in Y7 will be able to wait for them outside of the Sports Hall – testing is very quick.

What if I have already tested positive for COVID before the test?

If a child has tested positive for COVID within 90 days of their test in school, they are not required to take the test, but should come to school at their allotted time to register and go to lesson.

What should I do if I do not consent for my child to take a test at school?

If your child is in Year 8 – 11 Please send your child to school at the time allotted for them (see above). They will be registered in the Sports Hall and then asked to go to lessons.

If your child is in Year 7, please send them to school as normal on Wednesday 5^th January.

What if I have COVID symptoms on the day of my test?

No-one with COVID symptoms should come to school without first having taken a PCR test and having a received a negative result.

What will happen to ‘close contacts’ of students who test positive?

From September, close contacts are identified via NHS Test and Trace rather than the school. Contacts will only be traced where the positive case specifically identifies the individual as being a close contact. Children will no longer be required to self-isolate, if they are contacted as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Instead they will be advised to take a PCR test.

Will I still need to take tests at home?

Following the test on site, students should continue to test in line with government guidelines which is currently testing at home, twice weekly.