Private school lateral flow tests

[lunapeace]

So private schools will be obtaining the free lateral flow tests provided by the government. Bearing in mind everything else is paid for in private schools including exam entries, parents know this when they sign up, why are they receiving free tests? In fact, why aren't pupils tested properly once a week (as happens in many workplaces) and funded by the parents? Could someone answer this. I work in a state school and already we are hearing of a shortage of tests for all staff, it just makes me angry that the big independent up the road has all the resources but aren't dipping into their pockets. Bearing in mind they claimed furlough for most support staff (fees were only reduced a fraction) and are no doubt in a better off position than they were.

Because it is a public health issue?

Do you think if people have private health cover, they should be paying for tests?

@Seeline yes it's a public health issue but it's not consistent across the board. Some workplaces pay for private tests so that their staff can continue to work. A private school is just as much a business (employs a huge amount of staff) and should be doing the same.

And where does it end ?

Should the rich state school Parents pay too??!

My Child is at a private school but we don't have spare cash, don't go skiing and go
Camping - no smart car but it's our choice where we spend our money.
So should a rich family that have a lavish lifestyle but choose state school have more right than me ?

These posts are so tedious !
The government just want to be on top
Of covid and not over complicate it

Is that not the choice of the business though?

Schools have been directed by Government to carry out the tests.

The same way that people with private health care cover get to use the NHS for free.

Because, as well as paying for their child's education in a private school, they also pay their taxes like everyone else?

[quote lunapeace]@Seeline yes it's a public health issue but it's not consistent across the board. Some workplaces pay for private tests so that their staff can continue to work. A private school is just as much a business (employs a huge amount of staff) and should be doing the same.[/quote]
It's a business, but in education. Surely you see that that it different?

You can go online and order LF tests if you live with someone who works in a school or a school student, secondary or primary. There has been no mention of shortages.

Why on earth should private schools pay for testing? I can't comprehend your though process at all.

Working adult can get free lateral flow tests, do you think they should be made to pay as well or is it just those awful private school families you are singling out?

Should private companies be paying for all those staff to be tested, because they are all free.

Just another poster bashing private schools 🙄sigh

Private schools are not financially better off from covid. Some (many? I don't know, but a few in my experience) are struggling to stay afloat. Don't make assumptions.

Im anti private school but this is a stretch

They are available to parents, care staff, essential workers , school staff and more.
Its bot some elite stretched service.
And while some patents might indeed br minted the staff wont be and this will help them stay safe

If we want people to test to try and keep schools open and safer and therefore the wider community you can dingle out any group snd say no

Jesus. Ignore my errors

It's a public health issue. My school have lost a lot of money due to fee remissions, and very very few indies sit on any sort of cash reserve. Independent schools were given no funds to help set up their testing facilities, unlike state, if that makes you feel any better about it?
And academies are also businesses, by the way, funded with public money. My last school had all the fat cats in the trough, CEO, deputy CEO, directors of subjects etc. All on six figure salaries. The state sector is no longer a bastion of virtue. This state v private thing is tedious.

I get the argument as far as the pupils and teachers go but private schools employ many many more support staff than the average state school. A huge amount of staff in kitchens, domestics, offices etc. It takes the lateral flow tests for them to all of a sudden join the world of testing. They should have brought in private companies to test last year.

Businesses can apply for their employees working in offices or out of home to get free asymptomatic tests, why is this any different?

Because the govt has millions of LFD tests to get rid of.

So what you’re saying is that out of the entire UK population, all of which are entitled to free COVID tests, the only ones that should be singled out to pay for them are private school children? And this discriminatory view is coming from someone who works in a school? Do you also view the pupils that you perceive to be “richer” in your own school as having to pay their own way, on say issues like free school dinners? What about private school children who have a bursary place and are (in your view) “legitimately poor”? Should they forgo testing?

Maybe independent school staff and parents should have t pay for PCR swab tests too and vaccines?

This is what I imagine your face looks like

We are in the middle of a pandemic. These are children at school with teachers. Give your head a wobble OP.

What a ridiculous question. It’s a public health issue, OP.
I am sure you’d be complaining if private schools did have to buy them, chose not to, and fuelled an outbreak as a result, wouldn’t you?
If a millionaire breaks their leg, their health treatment is free, just as it’s free for a tramp with nothing. That is the beauty of universal healthcare.

Um, because this isn't an educational issue this is a public health issue. The people in those schools are still teachers and support staff, the children are still pupils, and the parents are still parents. And all are paying their taxes as individuals. The private schools are providing an educational setting at minimum financial cost to the public.

My son is at private school, and I don't get a reduction on my taxes despite him not using the state sector educational system (nor do I think I should!). Why shouldn't he and I have access to the lateral flow testing system, keeping me, him and the school community safe and protected from Covid running rampant in his school?

Yabu.

Because it is a government mandated public health issue.
It isn't complicated to understand.

In a better position? Are you joking? We lost 15% of our pupils in July because the parents' incomes didn't survive Covid. More may be struggling now. We were facing redundancies. We've all taken a 10% pay cut for a year instead. I'm not paying for a Covid test too! Especially when I'm only taking it under sufferance.

And what would you do about the huge number of parents who will prob agree to a free one but wouldn't bother if they had to pay? Or the children on bursaries and charity funding?

We don't have enough tests in school at the moment so have been asked to order online if we can. They're free too. It's healthcare

Why wouldn't they?
Private school students are allowed to use the NHS. We don't say to private school students that they need to get immunizations or their broken arm fixed privately do we?
I believe the government is using LF tests because they have a surplus. Whether the private schools buy from the government or the government gives it to them for free, it doesn't affect the supply available.