Covid Testing for Students on their return to school in September and Updated Risk Assessment
Thu 22 Jul 2021
School Risk Assessment and Covid-19 Asymptomatic Testing in the Autumn Term 2021
The Department for Education published updated guidance on 7 July 2021: Schools Covid Operational Guidance. This guidance explains the actions schools should take to reduce the risk of transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in their school. This includes public health advice, endorsed by Public Health England (PHE).
In response to this guidance, we have amended our Whole School Risk Assessment (see below) and the measures which we will put in place to ensure we are providing the best educational opportunities and support for our students, whilst minimising the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from September 2021.
Asymptomatic testing remains important in reducing the risk of transmission of infection within schools. We have been encouraging students and staff to carry out home LFT tests twice per week, suggesting Wednesday and Sunday evenings, and we will continue to do this and provide testing kits for students during term time until it is reviewed by the Department for Education at the end of September.
If you or your family require additional Covid testing kits over the summer holidays, please access them from local community venues and pharmacies.
We are offering students the opportunity to be tested in the academy on Tuesday 30 August and Thursday 2 September, prior to all students returning on Monday 6 September 2021.
If you would like your child to access on-site testing, please complete this OANo Student - COVID-19 LFD Testing Consent Form by Tuesday 10 August to provide your consent. You must complete this form in order to access on site testing for your child. We will contact those who have provided consent for testing in the week of 23 August to confirm the time that they should attend for testing.
If you do not consent to on site testing for your child, we would encourage you to collect home testing kits from the academy on Thursday 2 September between 10am and 2pm or access these at a community venue or pharmacy to enable them to test at home, prior to their return.
We strongly encourage ALL students to take a Covid-19 test prior to their return to the academy to help minimise the risk of transmission and safeguard students and staff.
Many thanks for your ongoing support during this challenging time.