About 1,000 students and 100 staff at a Harborough secondary school are set to be mass tested for Covid-19 over the next few days

About 1,000 students and 100 staff at a Market Harborough secondary school are set to be mass tested for Covid-19 over the next few days.

The ambitious intensive testing scheme is due to be carried out at Welland Park Academy on Welland Park Road.

But that could all change if Prime Minister Boris Johnson declares that he’s closing all schools until February when he addresses the nation at 8pm tonight (Monday).

Julie McBrearty, the principal of Welland Park Academy, told the Harborough Mail this afternoon: “We are hoping to put this programme into action over the next few days.

“Senior leaders and support staff here will be carrying out these tests on our pupils and staff if we can go ahead.

“They will be testing initially with lateral flow devices, which are quick and expedient.

“Anyone who tests positive will then be given a PCR test to confirm the result.”

She added: “We have been planning this for a while and we have got about 1,000 kits so far.

“We’ve set up a programme and we are now in the process of confirming time slots.

“Tests will start in our sports hall from tomorrow (Tuesday) when we welcome back the children of critical workers and vulnerable pupils.

“We are delighted to get behind the huge national effort to block and stop transmission of the coronavirus.

“We all know that testing as many people as possible will be crucial in helping to defeat this pandemic,” insisted Julie.

“Some of our staff have given up their own precious time over Christmas to undergo the training to administer these tests.

“We were overwhelmed by the number of staff who immediately offered and volunteered to support us – they’ve been brilliant.

“This speaks volumes for their dedication, commitment and determination to beat Covid and get every pupil back in to our classrooms.

“Fingers crossed we are looking forward to welcoming back our Year 11 pupils next Monday (January 11) and Year 7-10 on Monday January 18,” said Julie.