Monday 11 October 2021: Further to our emailed weekly parents' newsletter and information in the news over the weekend, we have seen an increase in the number of cases where people are testing positive on multiple Lateral Flow Tests but then negative on PCR tests.  

Whilst the national advice is that the PCR overrides the LFD, we are concerned over the pattern we are seeing and that it is replicated across the Southwest. As part of our 'Outbreak Management Plan' we have done a risk assessment and we are advising that, as a temporary measure, any positive test is a positive regardless of whether it is an LFD or PCR and that a negative PCR does not override a positive LFD. 

We are therefore asking any pupil or member of staff who has a positive LFD to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms, or 10 days from the positive LFD test result if there are no symptoms.

Given the uncertainty regarding PCR tests, please could we also ask that any pupil or staff member who has any symptoms takes an LFD test, even though the national advice is to go straight to the PCR when you have symptoms. Teachers are continuing to post work on MS Teams and SMHW for isolating pupils if they are well enough to complete it.

During this time, it is important that pupils and staff who are able to, continue with twice weekly testing. A number of cases have no symptoms. If pupils need more test boxes, they can collect them from Miss Brace's office by Reception. Any pupils wishing to test who have not done so far, should see Miss Brace.

We appreciate everyone's support in this matter to enable the school to continue to function as normally as possible and to keep us all safe.  We will update parents as the regional situation becomes clearer.

Useful links:

• NHS : Coronavirus symptoms
• Zoe App : What are the new top 5 COVID symptoms
• BBC : 'Isolate if you have Covid-19 symptoms but test negative'