Students of Warwick Academy were given Covid-19 Lateral Flow Tests on Saturday as part of a programme designed to get them back to in-person learning.

The tests were distributed between 9am and 3pm and the students tested themselves last night ahead of secondary’s return to school today.

The programme will run until the end of term with each student testing twice a week.

Dave Horan, principal at Warwick Academy, said: "We know only too well that in-class learning is the best socially, emotionally and academically.

“We want to get all students back on campus and keep them in, with lateral flow testing adding a layer of protection and surveillance to support this goal.

“There is no easy answer to this Covid pandemic as it shifts and changes and we believe that this gives us a more regular and rapid testing opportunity to help reduce the risk."

A lateral flow test is a coronavirus test that can be self-administered at home and reveals the result on a handheld device.

The school gave out tests, purchased by the school’s donors, to more than 600 families. Kiran Shah, of The Bermuda Pharmacy Group, worked to help secure the tests.

Mr Horan added: “Our parents and students have been incredibly supportive and patient as we have navigated both physical and remote learning.

“We are not charging for the tests with them being subsidised through the generosity of our donors, for which we are most grateful.

“The lateral flow testing will help enable our secondary school to get back to in-class learning after a period of remote learning and whilst our primary students have been in physically since the beginning of September, we are looking at the testing to further support them staying in school.

“We are fully committed to doing all that we can do to provide in uninterrupted in class learning experience.”