Please note this information is for students/parents who HAVE given consent for the Lateral Flow Test to take place. 

As promised here is all the information with regards to the timings of the tests for students along with details of actions that need to be taken by parents prior to the students arriving for their test.  The timings I am providing at this stage are for the initial round of testing during our staggered return. Each year group will have a ‘testing day’ in the period of 8^th-11^thMarch, before they return the following day, with all year groups back in school by Friday 12^th March.

Once students all return, second and third tests will take place during the school day. We will use the initial testing process to ascertain exact time requirements for these tests and will then plan for tests 2 and 3 based on those timings.

Initial testing timings

Mon 8th - Year 11

Tue 9th - Year 13/12

Time

Form 1

Form 2

Form 3

Time

Form 1

Form 2

Form 3

8-9am

CJ

CLC

8-9am

13DB

13CBR

13GDN

9-10am

AE

CLO

9-10am

13JS

13EWY/VJ

13YS

10-11am

EE

EMT

10-11am

13FP

12AC/LH

11am-12pm

EMS

JHG

JLF

11am-12pm

12MLH

12EMN/JBW

12-1pm

Lunch

12-1pm

Lunch

1-2pm

LD

OMK

1-2pm

12HHT

12DQ

2-3pm

OMO

RST

RBX

2-3pm

12SR

12MBY

12JLH

 

Wed 10th - Year 10					Thu 11th - Year 9
Time	Form 1	Form 2	Form 3		Time	Form 1	Form 2	Form 3
8-9am	AN	HBW			8-9am	HWT	PT
9-10am	LON	SWK			9-10am	LSY	LWR
10-11am	RJS	NS			10-11am	JWS	LBE
11am-12pm	KP	LB/HB	HR		11am-12pm	BE	LRI	NM
12-1pm	Lunch				12-1pm	Lunch
1-2pm	MCU	NDH			1-2pm	AMH	DST
2-3pm	PSR	PW			2-3pm	LRF	PBU

 

As I am sure you can appreciate, having such large year groups and such a high percentage of parents giving consent for testing, it is not possible to have an open-ended system for arrival for tests, so students MUST arrive for their test at the time specified. Please work with us to have your child on site for their test within the first 15 minutes of their allotted slot (e.g. by 10.15am if in the 10-11am slot, 1.15pm for the 1-2pm slot etc), as this will hopefully prevent sessions overrunning.

To support the separation of bubbles there will be two testing suites; one in the Bungalow (on entry to the turning circle) and one in the Mobile classrooms (at the rear of the College). Staff will be on hand to help direct students to these locations.

9RS, 10JK, 11JK and Y13 will be tested in the bungalow. 9TU, 10LM, 11LM and Y12 will be tested in the mobile classrooms

As mentioned in my letter last week, remote lessons will be cancelled for each year group on the testing day for that cohort to ensure testing is prioritised and to allow students the time to travel to and from site. Please can I ask that you do not contact school to try and amend testing days or times; this is not something we can facilitate due to the high numbers of students partaking in testing. Additionally, if students miss their test, there is not the capacity to offer any catch-up sessions; they will simply wait for the next test for their year group.

Do students have to wear uniform?

On the initial testing days from 8^th-11^th March, students can come for their test in their own clothing. As it is not a day where school learning is taking place, we do not expect students to come in their uniform.

Due to the testing locations we have available to us, there may be times at which students are required to wait/queue outdoors. As a result, please look at the weather forecast with your son/daughter ahead of their testing day, and if there is rain forecast, ensure they are prepared by coming with a waterproof coat and if needed, an umbrella. We would recommend that students wear a face covering at all times when queuing for their test if they cannot maintain social distance. They will also be expected to wear a face covering when inside the testing locations, just as they would at a mass testing centre, unless they are medically exempt.

What happens if my son/daughter attends and refuses to partake?

If students arrive on site and refuse to partake in the test, they will not be forced to do so. We will encourage them to try, however if they choose not to, they will be guided to make their way home immediately.

Travelling to and from site – adhering to lockdown measures

Please can I ask for your support in reminding students to follow lockdown measures; this means they should not be travelling to school in groups of more than two, and should make their way home in groups of no more than two immediately after their test is completed. The last thing we want is for students to be gathering in large groups, negating the positive impact that lateral flow testing can have. Additionally, reminding them that a negative result on their lateral flow test does not mean they can then meet in large groups is vital.

Registering an NHS account ahead of testing

One of the most time-consuming factors when having a lateral flow test is registration. Lots of details are required and this can significantly hold up the process. As a result, to cut out some of that time, please can I ask that you register an account with your son/daughter in advance of their testing day. To do this, go to - https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/register-kit click on ‘Start now’ and then click ‘Sign in or create an account’. By doing this, when students come for their tests, they will not then be required to add in all their personal details again. If I can ask for your support in doing this in advance, it would be hugely appreciated. Students should make a note of their username and password and save these in their phone.

 

What does my son/daughter need to bring?

Students simply need to bring a mobile phone with them to register their test on the day. If they have created an account in advance, all they will need to do on the day is register a unique barcode on the gov website which will then allow the result to be recorded and sent to the phone number and email address they have provided on their NHS account.

How do we find out the test result?

Test results are sent via the NHS once logged on the gov website. School will not be sending results, nor should parents contact school to request results. To this end, it is important that the details in the NHS account you create for your child are accurate to ensure the results arrive with you.

What if I have other questions?

I am sure you will appreciate that it is an extremely busy time at the moment, and receiving lots of email or phone queries is not feasible alongside the ongoing planning and preparation of the testing process for in excess of 1200 staff and students. As a result, I will offer a drop-in Q&A session on MS Teams which will take place from 3.30-4.30pm this afternoon. The link to access this meeting is - https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OGQzMzZiMmEtMGI3Mi00ZjU5LWExZjctN2YyMmFhNTQ0MGY5%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2273d5dbe2-8d1c-4260-9e71-3da247c3bad4%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%220142d3c1-0186-41d3-839a-37050532fc2c%22%7d

As mentioned at the start of this letter, I apologise for the length and detail of information, but I am sure that as parents you would prefer to be kept fully informed. Please do come along to the Q&A session if you have other questions.

Thank you again for your amazing continued support; it really does make what is a very challenging time so much more manageable.

Kindest regards,

 

Greg Wadsworth

Vice Principal