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Update on covid daily contact testing trial

The Department for Education (DfE) and Public Health England (PHE)  have recently launched a trial in some secondary schools to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of daily contact testing as an alternative to self-isolation. Essentially, this involves the use of daily lateral flow testing to enable ‘close contacts’ who get ongoing negative covid test results to remain in school. 

NAHT played an important role in challenging the use of daily lateral flow tests (LFTs) as an alternative to self-isolation at the start of the year. That resulted in PHE reversing its decision and pausing the use of LFTs in a similar way.

NAHT has already raised significant concerns with both the DfE and PHE about this new study. We believe there remain important questions to be answered about the ethics of such a trial, particularly in terms of the ability of all involved to give informed consent. We are also concerned about the potential liability schools could face by taking part in such a study.

We are currently seeking urgent answers to the questions we have from both DfE and PHE. Given the serious nature of these concerns, we do not recommend schools sign up to be involved in the study until we at least have clear answers to these questions. We suggest that NAHT members who might be considering doing so or who have already signed up contact NAHT’s advice team to discuss some of these issues further.

First published 28 April 2021

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NAHT Life logo

NAHT Life gives you the opportunity to continue your membership of the biggest union for school leaders both in post and in retirement.

 

NAHT Life focuses on helping retired members receive excellent trade union services and allows you to continue to play an active volunteer role within NAHT regions and branches, if that’s what you choose to do!

Please note to qualify for the benefits of NAHT Life membership you must join NAHT life within six months of retiring. 

Please ensure NAHT has your correct post-retirement contact details.

NAHT is currently reviewing, renewing and refreshing its services to support NAHT life member.

The Life Members' Sector Council (LMSC)

Whether leaving a labour of love or embracing a life of leisure, there can be no doubt that retirement from school leadership marks a huge change in lifestyle. There will be adjustments to make, new challenges to take and a range of new opportunities. At a time like this, it is important that our experienced members do not lose all the support they received in their working life. Our life members’ committee is here to ensure members are supported in retirement.

This committee feeds its extensive wealth of experience and know-how to support the work of NAHT. It also gives our life members the chance to make important contributions to our campaigns for working members.  

The committee, which meets four times a year, is made up of one elected representative from each of our regions, with the addition of one place each for Northern Ireland and Wales. And these elected committee members, normally, serve a three-year term.

Areas of focus for the committee include the following: 

  • Current legislation issues eg pension provision
  • Action against discrimination, including age discrimination.
LMSC chair

John Killeen (National Executive member): john.killeen@nahtofficials.org.uk

LMSC vice-chair

Nigel Patton: nigel.patton@nahtofficials.org.uk

LMSC communications officer

Michael Wilson: Michael.wilson@nahtofficials.org.uk

LMSC deputy communications officer

Eugene Symonds: eugene.symonds@nahtofficials.org.uk

Committee servicing officer

Frances Geddes has the responsibility for working closely with the LMSC as servicing officer. She can be contacted via email frances.geddes@naht.org.uk.

For further details and contact information about all current LMSC members please check out ‘Who’s who’ and the ‘List of LMSC members'.
 

See also

Join now - Life Membership 
Life membership FAQs
Life members' sector council
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Pensions advice
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Who's who 


 
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