Rugeley school named as pilot for new rapid testing in Covid-19 fight

@TheHartSchool pilot testing begins in battle against coronavirus

The Hart School in Rugeley has been chosen as one of the UK pilot schools for the new rapid testing in the battle against coronavirus.

Working with Staffordshire Local Authority, staff and students at the Penkridge Bank Road School’s Sixth Form have volunteered to take part in the Government’s new Lateral Flow Test initiative and testing began earlier this week (Tuesday).

The new Lateral Flow tests could be the breakthrough we need in the fight against Covid-19 as they give results in less than an hour – as they don’t have to be sent to a lab for processing – and getting quicker results would enable the country to respond faster to the virus.

Stepping up to help fight pandemic

It’s not the first time The Hart School and its community has stepped up to help in the fight against the virus this year.

Over the summer it made a staggering 26,000 face shields for frontline NHS staff and key workers across the country as part of a Go Fund Me PPE campaign.

Speaking about the Lateral Flow Tests, Headteacher Miss Rachael Sandham said:

“We are pleased to be able to take part in this new initiative to support our comprehensive strategy of reducing the risk of spreading coronavirus in school.

“And we are very grateful to our staff and Sixth Form students who have kindly volunteered and signed up to this new initiative.”

The tests are conducted using Antigen Lateral Flow devices (LFD) with asymptomatic people with the objective to reduce the Reproduction (R) rate by identifying asymptomatic, but potentially infectious individuals, helping break the chain of transmission.

Further developments in line for the New Year

And the school has plans in the pipeline to expand the testing further after Christmas.

Miss Sandham added: “In the New Year, we hope to develop a regular testing cycle and gradually expand this to other year groups. Taking this approach will provide increased confidence to look forward to a safe return to normality.

“Thanks to all parents and carers for supporting the school with this initiative.”