Teachers will not have to play a role in coronavirus testing in schools, a minister has told Sky News.
“Teachers are already fully occupied…they already have their hands full,” schools minister Nick Gibb said.
The return of secondary school and college pupils will be staggered in the first week of January, the government announced on Thursday.
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Mass testing to be rolled out in schools
Students set to take exams will go back as normal after Christmas, but the majority of those in secondary school will begin the term with online learning.
Primary school pupils will go back to school as normal in January, alongside vulnerable pupils and key workers’ children.
Face-to-face education for all students will return on 11 January.
The plan is to use the staggered return to allow schools to roll out mass testing of children and staff.
Two rapid tests will be offered to those students attending classes, at three days apart, with positive results confirmed by a lab-based PCR test.
Those with a positive test will be required to self-isolate in line with existing regulations.
Mr Gibb said this will be planned by the Armed Forces and administered by volunteers and agency workers.
“People are very community minded, this is a national effort,” he added.
“This is about our priority for education, making sure children are in the classroom, getting lessons.”
His comments come after Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said in a written ministerial statement that schools and colleges would need to “provide a few members of staff to support the testing programme”.