Limit role of schools in Covid testing, unions urge
Three education unions have written to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson expressing their concern that school and college leaders still have "little idea of the government’s Covid management plans for September and how they will be expected to run their settings."
It also raises growing concern among school and college leaders about testing on site, saying they should be run by an "appropriate public health body".
The letter said: "If there is a requirement for students to be tested on-site (whether on return in September or on an ongoing basis), limit the role of schools and colleges to providing appropriate space (if possible), and organising the throughput of students. The organising and running of the ATS, and the administration of tests themselves where required, should be carried out by an appropriate public health body."
The letter is signed by the General Secretaries of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), and the National Education Union (NEU).
Read moreLatest News
24/04/2026 - 12:32
A survey by Save My Exams has found that 40% of students are regularly disrupted by noise at home.
23/04/2026 - 10:13
A survey of 1,105 teachers reveals many senior leaders reporting cuts to teaching assistants (71%), support staff (49%) and teaching staff (30%).
23/04/2026 - 09:30
A report from the Digital Poverty Alliance show that while digital tools are now embedded across school routines, access and usability remain deeply uneven.
22/04/2026 - 09:28
School food improvement programme Nourish is set to launch in Cumberland in 2026, working with schools to improve the quality and culture of food throughout the school day
21/04/2026 - 07:18
The government has announced a series of new measures aimed at strengthening freedom of speech and academic freedom across universities
