Lateral Test Flow Testing Programme at CSIA

Here are further details regarding the Government’s coronavirus testing scheme to be rolled out in schools. Along with other protective measures we are taking, these tests will help our staff and students to remain in school safely.  As the current advice suggests that up to one third of people who have coronavirus experience no symptoms, regular testing of staff and students will help to stop the virus spread and keep our school open as safely as possible.  The test is voluntary, but we would encourage all students to engage in this program.

The tests cannot be administered without parental consent. If you have already completed the consent form then this will be used, however, if you haven’t completed the form; in order to provide consent, please complete the google form below.

Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests have been widely and successfully used to detect COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals. No test is perfect, but the speed and convenience of LFD tests supports detection of the virus in asymptomatic individuals who would not otherwise be tested. They are clinically approved and are crucial in the fight against the virus. As the tests are more sensitive with higher viral loads, there is a risk of returning a negative result when viral loads are low (e.g. in the early stages of infection). This is why Public Health England recommend two LFD tests 3 to 4 days apart, or regular testing, to enhance detection by picking up any cases which were not detected during the first test and to catch any new infections.

A program of testing will commence the w/b 8th March for all students. Please see the schedule below.

Year Group Test 1 Students return to onsite lessons Test 2 Test 3
7 Thursday 11th March Friday 12th March Tuesday 16th March Friday 19th March
8 Wednesday 10th March Thursday 11th March Monday 15th March Thursday 18th March
9 Wednesday 10th March Thursday 11th March Monday 15th March Thursday 18th March
10 Tuesday 9th March Wednesday 10th March Friday 12th March Wednesday 17th March
11 Monday 8th March Tuesday 9th March Thursday 11th March Tuesday 16th March
12 Monday 8th March Tuesday 9th March Thursday 11th March Tuesday 16th March
13 Tuesday 9th March Wednesday 10th March Friday 12th March Wednesday 17th March

You will see on the schedule that students will be tested three times. On the first testing day students will arrive at an allocated time; (please see below), have the test and then will leave to go home. It is important that students arrive to school at their allocated time and students can attend in non-school uniform, for test one. When students leave our school site it is essential that they make their way home and they are socially distanced from other students. If there are students who arrive on a bus, they will be tested first and then they will be transported home on our mini buses after they have been tested; this is because we require a negative test prior to the students commencing school. The students will then return to school the day following their first test to attend lessons, as long as their test was negative. The students will then complete two further tests in schools 3 – 5 days after their previous test.

Testing Day Arrangements:

  • Students are to arrive promptly for their allocated time slot. If parents/carers transport by car they can wait in your cars whilst your child is tested; this will need to be in the Camborne Rugby Club car park, and not in the school grounds.
  • Students need to wear their face masks.
  • The testing area will be in the Sports Hall or the Top Gym. If students are to attend the Sports Hall then please enter via the outside doors of the Sports Hall by the MUGA. If students are to attend the Top Gym then please enter via the outside doors by the mini buses; these areas will be marked out.
  • Students will need to use the hand sanitiser provided as they enter.
  • Once the first test has been completed students are to leave the school site promptly.
Testing Day schedules

After the third test the students will be given home testing kits to complete at home under supervision from an adult. Students not undergoing testing should attend school in line with the phased return.

Home Testing for Students

Home testing kits for students will be available to take home on the third testing day at school. The students will be required to collect the home testing kit from their form tutor. You need to consider where to store the kits when at home. The test kits should be kept at a temperature of between approximately 2*C and 30*C and in a secure place to prevent unauthorised access.  Students will be required to carry out twice weekly testing at home (3 to 4 days apart) before coming into the education setting in the morning. When testing at home, students aged 12-17 should self-test and report with adult supervision (the adult may conduct the test if necessary) and students aged 11 should be tested/swabbed by an adult.

How to self test video

How to self test help sheet

If a student tests positive using a LFD, it is likely that they are infectious at that moment, whereas people testing positive on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or lab-processed test could be in the less infectious early or late stages of disease. This means that by using the lateral flow test we can identify people with a high viral load who are the most likely to spread the virus further. A negative LFD result should not be read as a means to relax or ignore social distancing or other virus prevention measures intended to reduce transmission – LFD is an additional tool that contributes to reducing risk. Parents/carer will only be contacted by the school if your child has tested positive.

If a student tests positive using a LFD, it is likely that they are infectious at that moment, whereas people testing positive on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or lab-processed test could be in the less infectious early or late stages of disease. This means that by using the lateral flow test we can identify people with a high viral load who are the most likely to spread the virus further. A negative LFD result should not be read as a means to relax or ignore social distancing or other virus prevention measures intended to reduce transmission – LFD is an additional tool that contributes to reducing risk. Parents/carer will only be contacted by the school if your child has tested positive.

Once the test has been conducted parents/carers will log the test result online at the following link https://www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result and need to also, separately, inform school of the test result; this will be completed using this google form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKSaDiDsmHmKYctE2a9obKSr08AYldR2KcT-Nk1yqeMiknlA/viewform

Parents/carers will also receive a text/email notification of a positive or negative result from NHS Test & Trace. Tests are free of charge and will be provided by the school. If a student have a positive LFD test result it is essential that you do not come into school and it is imperative that parents/carers email or call Fiona Rowles – Jane on rowles-janef@cambornescience.co.uk or 01209 712280 and further guidance will be provided.

Consent / Privacy

Once students and parents/carers understand the testing process, if they choose to participate, they are committing to self-administer the test and provide their results. Schools should ensure that students provide their results (positive, negative or void) to NHS Test and Trace via the self-report gov.uk page. Results should also be shared with school to support local contact tracing.

Students who decline to participate can still attend school if not symptomatic.

People who decline to participate in this testing programme should follow the usual national guidelines on self-isolation and anyone should get tested if they show symptoms.

We will support our students throughout but let us know if you have any questions.

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