COVID testing in secondary schools

[monkeyblonde]

I am an LSA in a secondary school. At the start of this term we began weekly LFT for all staff and children in school. In my normal role I support kids in the classroom - during this lockdown the LSAs are running the CWP.

Now we are also being asked to assist with running the testing programme, by completing the online training and performing the various roles (test assistant, processing etc). Are other LSAs being asked to do this? It feels very wrong and completely draining on top of a whole day of CWP (testing takes place before school). Many of us signed up to a job to fit in with family commitments, I know that we are all in this together but can I say no?

LSAs are doing it in my school along with admin staff.

We asked for volunteers. No one was compelled to do it.

Of course you can say no. You are not medically trained and it well outside of your normal job role. It also potentially puts you at a big risk of infection. Speak to your union rep and refuse. Even better if you speak to your fellow TAs and refuse as a group.

All support staff where asked at my school and it was optional
Personally I wouldn't be happy to be part of this and I feel there is too big a risk factor

We have a mixture of support staff (no TAs), exam invigilators and parent volunteers. Nobody was made to be involved, it was all voluntary. We have a member of SLT who oversees the whole thing, seems to be working ok so far.