There has been “no deal” brokered with teachers’ leaders on plans for mass Covid testing when schools reopen to more pupils, the UK’s biggest education union has said.
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, poured cold water on today’s reports that union bosses and ministers had agreed a plan for schools to initially test all pupils, with parents taking on the responsibility using home kits thereafter.
Asked whether there was any truth to reports that education unions had struck a deal with the government on testing plans, Dr Bousted told Tes: “There’s no deal. As far as I know, there’s been no deal with any of the unions reached - certainly not with the NEU. But I don’t think with the headteacher unions either.
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“And the reason why is because there’s a huge amount of scepticism about lateral flow testing and about whether it’s picking anything up. So I think lateral flow testing is something that’s really important to the government, but I am quite confident there’s been no backroom deal with the unions about this.”
Will parents carry out Covid tests at home?
The Association of School College Leaders (ASCL) concurred that “no final decision has yet been made about what will happen from 8 March”.
Geoff Barton, ASCL general secretary, said: “Beyond the initial testing phase, we have urged the government to allow these Covid tests to be done at home using home-testing kits in order to reduce the logistical burden on schools of running testing centres, which is a very onerous expectation.
“We are also expecting new guidance to be issued to schools next week following the prime minister’s announcement, which will set out the safety measures for full reopening, and that this will include the latest advice on the use of face coverings. All these matters are currently under discussion and no final decisions have been taken.”
Asked this morning about reports that parents could be asked to test their children at home twice a week during term time, health minister Helen Whately said there was “work in progress”.
Education unions met with DfE officials earlier today ahead of Boris Johnson’s announcement of the “road map” out of lockdown, which is due next week.
Dr Bousted added: “We are as much in the dark about what a return to school would look like as the public are. And we will find out when you find out on Monday, when Boris Johnson makes the announcement.”
The NAHT school leaders’ union has also been approached for comment on this morning’s reports.
