Highfields is preparing to welcome back all students to the classroom in phases over the coming days - and each will receive three lateral flow Covid tests on site within the next two weeks.
The school’s sports hall has been transformed into a Covid testing centre, with 10 bays, to ensure the safe return of all staff and students.
The return to school is being staggered among year groups to accommodate the testing programme.
All students will have received their first test ready for school to reopen fully by Thursday 11th March. Second and third tests for each student will take place up to Thursday 18th March, when home testing kits will then be sent out for students to test twice a week.
Students in Year 7 will have their first test on Wednesday 10th March before starting normal lessons at 8.40am on Thursday 11th March.
Students in Year 8 will have their first test on Tuesday 9th March before starting normal lessons at 8.40am on Wednesday 10th March.
Students in Year 9 will have their first test on Monday 8th March before starting normal lessons at 8.40am on Thursday 11th March.
Students in Year 10 have already received their first test and will start normal lessons at 10.30am on Wednesday 10th March.
Students in Year 11 will have their first test on Monday 8th March before starting normal lessons at 10.30am on Tuesday 9th March.
To minimise queuing and to help maintain social distancing, students are being encouraged to arrive no more than a few minutes before their allocated testing slots.
An instructional video has been created in school to inform and reassure students about the testing process, which can be found here, as well as a list of frequently asked questions.
Consent forms have been sent out to parents, which the vast majority have signed. Tests will not be carried out on students without consent.
Students and staff will be required to wear masks in lessons when school returns, unless they are exempt, until at least Easter in line with Government guidance.
Assistant Headteacher, Mr P Rose, said: “We will be testing all students before they return to the classroom, offering all students three lateral flow tests on the school site, followed by home test kits to use twice per week.
“By testing we will help to stop the virus spread and keep our school open as safely as possible.
“We are delighted with the support that we have received from parents and are really looking forward to welcoming all students back to school.”
Lateral Flow Testing has already been under way on site for the limited number of staff and students who returned to school following the Christmas break.
But provisions have been ramped up to enable mass testing in preparation for the school’s full return.
The school has been running a remote learning programme, including live lessons, since schools were closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Responses to the remote programme from students, parents and carers have been overwhelmingly positive.
