Catmose College in Oakham launches testing unit for pupils and staff
A Covid-19 testing unit has been set up at a school to ensure pupils and staff can self-isolate quickly if necessary.
While the majority of pupils are engaged in online learning at home, most schools are remaining open for the children of key workers, as well as for pupils who are considered vulnerable.
To ensure the school learning environment is safe, Catmose College has launched a testing unit to identify if pupils or staff have coronavirus.
More than 1,370 lateral flow tests - which deliver results within a few minutes of the test being taken - have been completed.
Of these 659 have been for pupils. Staff and pupils are tested twice each week.
Catmose College in Oakham has about 150 pupils attending in-person lessons and socially distanced sports and drama lessons.
Plans to support the pupils’ mental wellbeing during lockdown are set to include a ‘Positive Mental Health Week’, a series of activities on World Book Day including allowing the pupils and teachers to dress up as their favourite book characters, and a ‘dress down’ day in which pupils can wear their own, casual clothes.
Principal Stuart Williams said: “We pride ourselves on having pupils who are engaged in their lessons that are run by a superb team of staff.
“As a school we are successfully achieving the testing, as well as on-screen learning, live learning, and bringing fun into the school day.”