Mass Covid tests to start for Northamptonshire school chidlren during first week of January

Most of Northamptonshire's secondary school students will get an extra week at home doing online learning after the Christmas holidays, the Government has announced.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today announced arrangements for January's return-to-school alongside a roll-out of mass testing — with the help of the Army — during the first few days.

Primary school kids, key workers' children, or key exam year kids will go back as usual and be tested on their first day back.

But first day of term is to be staggered for others in secondary schools who will be tested at school but learn at home until the following week.

A Government spokesman said: "Guidance will shortly be provided to schools and colleges on how to set up and staff the testing sites.

"Armed forces personnel will support directly through planning with schools and colleges"

But Alan Hackett, Northamptonshire's national execituve member of the NASUWT, said: "Yet again the government is announcing significant changes affecting schools with little or no time to prepare before the Christmas closure period."

Downing Street insists the Christmas holiday is not being extended and the return to school is not being delayed.

A No10 spokesman said today: "The start of term won’t be delayed but we are asking secondary schools to take a staggered return, with online learning, with in-person teaching for all starting on 11 January."

Parents in Northamptonshire have complained about being forced to send kids to school in the run-up to Christmas as the number of coronavirus cases rose in the county.

And teaching unions slammed the timing of the announcement less than 24 hours before schools should be shutting down for the Christmas holidays.

Mr Hackett added: "It's infurating that when we were told schools could have an inset day on the final day before Christmas, that announcement also came really late.

"So it it was left to individual schools and some have but the majority are staying open.

"If we could just get some joined-up thinking and some advance notice from this Goverment.

"School leaders have been saying we need a staggered start to the new term for a while.

"Now it's going to be down to the schools to notify parents.

"Our sympathies are with the headteachers, staff and parents who are going to be confused by this."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We have been clear throughout on the importance of schools, both in terms of the learning that children require but also the development and mental health gains it brings by being able to attend school.

"We have been clear that it's in the best interest for all children to attend."