Unions raise health fears over plan to keep schools in mass testing scheme fully open ahead of Christmas

Education unions have questioned plans in England to keep schools affected by mass testing plans fully open, saying it could lead to increased infection.

The decision to keep pupils in school came as Wales moved all teaching online in secondary schools and colleges for the final week of term to limit the spread of coronavirus. 

Asked why England was not taking a similar step, government minister Oliver Dowden said on Friday that the new testing plans were aimed at keeping children in education. 

Mass coronavirus testing is going ahead for secondary school students in areas of London, Essex and Kent amid rising coronavirus rates, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, announced on Thursday.

Leading education unions have raised doubts over whether schools affected by these plans should be staying fully open before breaking up next week. 

“We have to question why the plan is to mass test children, and there is apparently no consideration of moving to remote learning for the last week of term,” Geoff Barton from the Association for School and College Leaders (ASCL) said. 

“The number of infections in these areas is very similar to the situation in parts of Wales, where the government there has decided to move to remote learning in secondary schools and colleges from Monday.”

The union’s general secretary added: “We really do hope that this is not another sign of the government in Westminster ploughing ahead with its insistence that schools should remain fully open in England come what may."

Meanwhile, Paul Whiteman from the school leaders’ union NAHT union: "The government is yet to explain why during this emergency testing period public health is best served by schools remaining fully open.”

He added: “A very short-term period of home learning while test results are obtained would ensure further transmission does not occur in schools amongst the most affected group.”

On Thursday, the government said mass testing for Covid-19 would start immediately for secondary school students in parts of London and bordering areas of Essex and Kent, amid growing rates of disease in the capital.

Matt Hancock said there had been “worrying rises” in daily data for 11- to 18-year-olds, particularly in northeast London.

On the same day, the Welsh education minister said secondary schools and colleges in the country will move to online learning from next Monday following advice from the Welsh chief medical officer over a “deteriorating” public health situation.

On Friday, Mr Dowden, the UK culture minister, refused to comment on whether the government will shut schools early in England ahead of Christmas. 

“The main thing we are doing in respect of schools which you have seen today is to have this mass testing to pick up on those kids who are asymptomatic,” he told Times Radio.

Schools in England have been allowed to close one day early give teachers a “proper break” from carrying out contract tracing.

The extra day off for pupils comes amid concerns staff and children in school next week could be told to self-isolate over Christmas. 

“It is a national priority to keep education settings open full time and it is vital that children remain in school until the end of the term," a Department for Education spokesperson said.

“Schools, colleges and early years settings across the country have worked tremendously hard to put protective measures in place that are helping reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted and our regional school commissioner teams continue to support local authorities and school trusts to remain open and help resolve any operational issues.”

The Department of Health and Social Care have been contacted by The Independent.