So- will you be wielding the testing stick??

[Cathpot]

Bumped into my Head as I left today looking a bit on the edge. He goes ‘So I’ve just heard on the BBC I’ve got to get set up to test 1200 people by the start of next term’. I said - what?? Then I asked - who is going to do this testing?! He understandably had no idea.

I am usually game to muck in, I really appreciate our SLT and the way they have tried to shield us from stress of this situation and kept our school going this term- but I am not sticking a test swab up teenagers noses. I’m just not. I am pretty easy going general and I think if I’ve found a line in the sand I won’t be the only one. Anyone got thoughts on how they will do this??

If they start this is Scotland I certainly won't be doing it and I cant' imagine any of my colleagues will either

I feel so sorry for the Head, I expect he thought he might get a few days off this holiday.

I won't but there will be plenty at mine who see this as an opportunity to get noticed.

It's just astonishing. Cannot get my brain around this expectation and no chance I will do this if it comes to primary school. I just could not do it.

It says in the first instance the military will do the tests but presume then they will train others.

I'm not willing to and I made this clear to my line manager today when we were all discussing it.

I said I was willing to supervise kids doing their own, but not actually test- particularly if they are symptomatic or close contacts.

I’m going to sit back and wait for all the martyrs to step forward.

I definitely won’t. It’s time to say ‘no’ and mean it.

It's months until we have to do this in primary, I've already gone on the record as a no.

I think they may be underestimating how much a teenager will not want a teacher they know sticking things up their nose.

Can teens do their own? I’ve not had a test so I don’t know how easy it is, I’ve just heard you have to go further in than seems wise and it’s uncomfortable.

Primary teacher and no! I don’t think any school staff should be signing up to do this.

No way.

"I won't but there will be plenty at mine who see this as an opportunity to get noticed."

"I’m going to sit back and wait for all the martyrs to step forward."

Given the criticism we face from kids, parents and the media it's a shame teachers are on here moaning about other teachers.

I'm not a martyr and I'm too old to care about being noticed but I'd do it if given the training and the time, it wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

Primary here. I don’t actually care about doing the tests but then you have to bear in mind that we do a lot more up close and personal care than those who work with teenagers (hats off to you, teenagers scare me).

What bothers me is time. We have no time. During the week I literally do not have time to add anything else to my schedule - I teach full time and have a just turned two year old. My working day goes 7.30-5.30, then 7-10 and even then I’m rushing around like a nutter to keep up with workload. I don’t take a lunch break and I usually only get one loo trip during the teaching day.

I can’t imagine that the workload is any less in secondaries.

When, in the name of a**e, would we have time to carry out these tests?

Nick Gibb has just been on Sky News saying that teachers will not be asked to do tests - but didn't say who would be doing them. TAs? Which is ridiculous, because where are they going to find the time? Volunteers (apparently, people are community minded)? Who would volunteer for that?
I just get angerier and angrier about this continuing utter shit storm. 🤬

Me too @MrsZola They go on and on about how important it is that kids don’t miss any more education, but are expecting schools to do more and more tasks that are not teaching, with no additional resources or funding.

So many colleagues are close to the edge already, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the final straw & there are mass resignations

They've been told they need to find volunteers. I will not be volunteering

Me neither @CheesecakeAddict

Just imagine if you had to wield one of those swabs and did some damage. Would you be insured? Bloody hell, I hate putting plasters on kids at my primary school. No f*ing way am I swabbing anyone at my secondary!

Why can't teenagers do the test themselves?

Nope - I work in primary and had to test my own year 5 son a couple of months back. He was very distressed by it, which upset me - it was awful! No way I am doing that on mass - nor will I expect him to allow a stranger (or a staff member he knows!) to do it if he gets tested again - I don’t think I would get him to agree to anyone but me doing it and wouldn’t wish to inflict my sobbing child on someone else to swab either!

(Oh and I provide intimate care and close contact medical care as part of my usual role and have continued to do that throughout - but swabbing kids is not for me!)

I had to test myself for Covid which was bad enough!! The instructions are very specific in order to get an accurate result

@CheesecakeAddict

They've been told they need to find volunteers. I will not be volunteering

Me neither.

@DipSwimSwoosh

Why can't teenagers do the test themselves?

They will do it themselves, under supervision.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

Not doing it. The idea that untrained 'volunteers' carry out an invasive procedure on kids is completely and utterly insane.

Not least because I also very much doubt that suitable PPE will be provided. Have you seen what the testers at actual testing sites have to wear?? And that's really going to be provided in every school?

So we're being asked to carry out an unpleasant medical procedure with probably limited PPE on someone who may be infecting you while you do it???

Nah. No way.