The Mountbatten School, Romsey, hails staff for mass testing effort

The Mountbatten School, Whitenap Lane, said on Monday (March 15) its mass testing facility had processed 3,996 tests in a bid to keep children safe from the deadly bug.

As part of Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown, school and college students were able to head back into the classroom last week under the first step to ease coronavirus restrictions.

Secondary school pupils have been asked to take three voluntary COVID-19 tests onsite and one at home over the first fortnight - before being sent home-testing kits to do twice a week.

• A glimpse into a Romsey school's Covid testing programme

Associate headteacher at The Mountbatten School, Christopher Cox, praised staff for quickly testing children, allowing them to return to the classroom.

He said: "The Mountbatten School converted its main Sports Hall into a 12 bay testing station, enabling a speedy rollout of tests to all children so that all year groups could return to face-to-face lessons on Monday 8 March.

"Thanks to monumental efforts by teaching and support staff, over nine days, 3,996 tests took place.

"This has meant that students can return to lessons with confidence and as safely as possible."

Mr Cox explained the next steps for making sure students and staff will be protected from Covid-19.

He added: "In accordance with Government instructions, the testing regime now moves from school to individual homes.

"The school continues to operate in ‘bubbles’ and with designated areas so that, following any positive test, we can quickly identify other students who need to self-isolate."

This comes after Mr Cox said setting up a facility capable of processing 600 tests a day was a "mammoth task".

But, he stressed: "Staff responded magnificently and we were able to open the school to all students on March 8.

"It was heart-warming to see so many happy children back in school, in lessons and eager to learn."