School leaders and governors issue Covid testing plea to Prime Minister

Three associations representing school leaders and governors have written jointly to the Prime Minister to express mounting concern about difficulties in obtaining Covid tests and accessing timely advice from local health protection teams.

They warn of a “deep sense of foreboding about the potential for the system to become ever-more riddled with delays” and call on the Prime Minister to personally take charge of the situation.

The letter concludes: “We are sure you agree that schools and colleges have done a fantastic job in putting in place complex safety systems in order to reopen to millions of children and young people. They now need the government to step up to the plate."

The letter is signed by Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL); Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT); and Emma Knights, chief executive of the National Governance Association (NGA).