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Monday March 8th saw all students returning to schools and colleges for face-to-face teaching after being closed to all but the most vulnerable pupils and children of key workers since January 5th. Much work has gone on in the background to ensure that our schools are safe and able to receive students back into the classroom, whilst simultaneously carrying out lateral flow tests on staff and students to help with controlling the spread of the virus. We spoke to Jack Ashford, Facilities Manager at King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy to find out what has happened within the school to ensure that they could facilitate a safe return for staff and students. A small team at King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy, consisting of Jack Ashford, Julie Jones (Data and Examination Manager), Denise Hopkins (Attendance & Family Support & Assistant Designated Safeguarding Lead) and Bryan Elcocks (Intervention & Student Support Lead) have been regularly reviewing and updating existing risk assessments. Some of the control measures that have been put into place include setting up the main hall as a temporary dining facility so that there is no crossing of year ‘bubbles’ at break time, enhancing and improving the cleaning routines, as well as providing an external covered space so that two year groups can have access to outdoor areas at break times. Jack comments: "We liaised with the Academy Trust procurement team during the early stages of lockdown to tender for an external covered canopy, which has been installed on the upper playground at the school. This has enabled students to go outside for fresh air during break time even during periods of inclement weather. This is a permanent structure which will remain on site long after Covid has gone". "The setting up of a lateral flow testing facility on site has been hard work but the team have rallied together really well to create a slick well organised test centre and process. It has been a steep learning curve for everyone involved but the team have risen to the challenge. Special mention to Mrs Hopkins, Mrs Jones and Mr Elcocks for their tireless hard work and support in running the test centre. Staff have been supported by ten students that left the school last year, who have returned to the school to take up roles as Test Assistants and Processors. Many of the students have been utilising skills that they have learnt at their time at King Edward VI Sheldon Heath Academy, whilst studying A level Chemistry, Biology and Physics. It has also provided them with valuable real life work experience which will further assist them in their university studies as they work towards degrees in Pharmacy at Wolverhampton, Neuro Science at Aston University and Medicine at Birmingham University. "The sign up rate for on-site lateral flow testing has been great and it’s been pleasing to see the number of people committed to regular testing in order to try and break the chains of transmission." This mass testing of students has now been completed, resulting in 2399 tests carried out on site. A huge thank you to everyone across the King Edward VI Foundation schools, that have made our places of learning safe and welcoming to both staff and students, whilst ensuring our young people are still receiving the excellent education they deserve.