Gary Moore, headteacher at Regent High School: Everyone must wear a mask in indoor spaces

SECONDARY schools are preparing to mass test pupils for signs of the coronavirus as children head back to the classroom from Monday.

Most are returning in phases as twice-a-week “rapid” lateral flow testing takes place in schools.

Parents and carers of primary school-aged children will be asked to use test kits at home. Headteachers are ex­pecting a small number of people to refuse tests. Some are already exempt from mask-wearing guidelines. Haverstock School in Chalk Farm piloted lateral flow testing in schools before Christmas.

Headteacher James Hadley said: “It’s a matter of parental choice. “We’re not going to be forcing or strong-arming people into it, but we have had colleagues supporting families throughout if they’ve got any questions or need help.”

At Regent High School in Somers Town, year 11 pupils will be tested on Monday, and all those with negative results will be back in the classroom the next day, with other year groups following the same pattern each day thereafter.

Headteacher Gary Moore said his school was ready to ask everyone coming onto the site to wear a face covering.

He added: “I think there’s been a lack of leadership on wearing masks in all indoor spaces in schools. The mantra from me is that all students, all teachers, all visitors will have to wear a mask in an indoor space. I don’t need to modify my behaviour or uniform policy with that, we’ve got systems and processes in school to deal with children who don’t do as they’re asked. ”

Haverstock Secondary School

Concerns about consent for testing were raised at a meeting in neighbouring Islington on Monday, with schools and the Town Hall keen for parents and pupils to embrace the tests – but fearing some would be resistant in case it led to stay-at-home orders and time off from paid work.

Robin Street, co-headteacher at UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage, warned that the tests were only one measure needed.

“If people see it as the answer to the problem, then that’s shortsighted and you put everybody at risk,” he said. “As long as you’re pragmatic enough to say ‘it’s going to help, but it’s not going to solve everything’, you’ve still got to do everything else.”

Mr Street said pupils should not be written off as a “lost generation” in terms of their education.

“Let’s not in any way be damning these kids,” he added. “They’ll have learnt resilience, adaptability, [and] online skills that will serve them well for this week, this year and the rest of their lives. “I think they’ve adapted better than adults.” Schools did not reopen as normal in January after the Christmas holidays, with only children of key workers and those considered vulnerable continuing to go in.

The government later marked March 8 as the day it hoped declining Covid infection levels would allow a mass return.

Calls have been made from union leaders and politicians for school staff to be given priority for the Covid-19 vaccine, but so far the government has rejected them.

John Hayes, headteacher at Gospel Oak ­Primary School, said: “Anyone being asked not to follow the stay-at-home guidance should be able to get the vaccine. If people are being told you have to go to work, then they should be saying ‘because you have to, you should have the vaccine’.”

He added that he was looking forward to the return of pupils.

“I’m personally very excited about it, because it feels like things are getting better,” he said. “It’s going to feel a lot more normal. It’s just the best thing for the kids and their families, who have had to endure an enormous amount of stress.”

Bubble systems will be back at both primary and secondary schools, as are staggered school start and lesson times. The new rules on mask-wearing include all indoor spaces apart from dining halls. The council is helping to support the lateral flow testing.

Camden’s education chief, Labour councillor Angela Mason, said: “I want to reassure everyone that we are working closely with all our schools to ensure they are fully supported to resume face-to-face lessons and that all the necessary safety measures are in place to keep students and staff as safe as possible.

“This work includes careful planning, updating rigorous risk assessments tailored to each school community and working alongside Camden Learning, local Public Health colleagues and trade unions to ensure all our staff and pupils feel safe and supported on their return.”