Students Covid-19 Home Testing Kits

March 2022 update

Home testing

Asymptomatic testing (for people with no symptoms)

We would recommend that staff and students continue to use home testing kits twice a week to help keep transmission risks lower in school. The government advice is below, within the context of our school. We would recommend that you continue to test at home, as we have many families with vulnerable members and many unvaccinated students and families.

Following the latest guidance, we will no longer be receiving home testing kits to distribute to students or staff. While we still have supplies, these can be collected from year offices as required. Schools are no longer being supplied with these but we do have some stock remaining. Alternatively, tests can be ordered online here: Order coronavirus lateral flow tests

Government guidance for schools

Information taken from gov.uk Schools Guidance

From 21 February, staff and pupils in mainstream secondary schools will not be expected to continue taking part in regular asymptomatic testing and should follow asymptomatic testing advice for the general population.

Further information is available in the NHS get tested for COVID-19 guidance. In the event of an outbreak, a school may also be advised by their local health team or director of public health to undertake testing for staff and students of secondary age and above for a period of time.

NHS guidance about testing – follow link for full details

If you need a follow-up PCR test

If you get a positive lateral flow test result, you do not usually need to get a follow-up PCR test. You should only get a follow-up PCR test if:

• You’re eligible for new COVID-19 treatments
• You’re asked to do so as part of research

Get a follow-up PCR test on GOV.UK

If you live with or have been in contact with someone who’s tested positive

You’re no longer advised to do daily rapid lateral flow tests after you’ve come into contact with someone who has COVID-19.

If you live with or have stayed overnight in the household of someone who has the virus, you should follow the advice for close contacts of people with COVID-19 on GOV.UK.

If you’ve had contact with someone with COVID-19 but do not live with them or have not stayed overnight in their household, follow the guidance on how to stay safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on GOV.UK.

Taking the test

Students have received their own boxes of tests. Students should take the test, twice a week. Instructions on how to do the test are in the box. There is also a useful video to show you how to take the test here: Test Instruction Film 

All students were given a training session on how use the tests on their return to school in September. Help and support is available, including instructions in different languages on how to test and report the results and a video showing you how to take the test: Help in different languages here.

There is no need to keep used test equipment after the test result has been reported. You can put it in your normal bin (household waste).

This does not replace symptomatic testing. If you have symptoms, you should self-isolate immediately, book a PCR test using this link: www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119 and follow national guidelines.

You should also report your PCR test by email to: covid@moseley.bham.sch.uk

or using the Edulink app, information here: Edulink

The new self-testing kits we will look like this:

What should you do after the test?

The result of each test needs to be reported using the NHS Test & Trace self-report website and also reporting to the school as follows:

Positive Result

• If anyone tests positive, you should book a PCR test and self isolate.
• You need to report your result to both NHS Test and Trace and Moseley School and Sixth Form, using the form on Teams in the Year Group Folder.
• You should order a confirmatory PCR test if you are testing at home and have had a positive result: Order a PCR Test here

Negative Result

• Negative and void results should be reported to both NHS Test & Trace and Moseley School and Sixth Form, using the form on Teams in the Year Group Folder.
• A negative result does not guarantee that you are not carrying the virus. So, you should continue to follow social distancing, and other measures to reduce transmission such as wearing a face mask and regularly washing your hands and observing social distancing.
• If you or anyone in your household gets symptoms of the virus you should follow national guidelines on self-isolation and testing.

Unclear Result

• If the result of the test is unclear (void) you should do another test.