Education leaders have been angered by a shortage of coronavirus tests in the UK which means teachers and pupils cannot get tested, leaving the door open for the virus to spread through schools.
Hospitals and health trusts have been given priority for testing to prevent staff taking time off sick or self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms.
The shortage of tests means that hospital staff are waiting too long for coronavirus tests, just as the NHS tries to catch up with a backlog caused by the pandemic – but it could also mean schools not being safe places.
The testing controversy comes a day after new lockdown rules came into force, which essentially ban mingling.
Geoff Barton, general secretary at the Association of School and College Leaders, said heads had contacted him saying they felt “hoodwinked’.
Mr Barton told BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme that a head teacher had told him: “Everything we have put in place with the one-way systems and bubbles, and now we are being tripped, whether it is a child or a member of staff.
“I don’t know whether I can staff classes tomorrow or next week.”
He added: “If someone shows symptoms the guidance is contact public health officials and one of the frustrations is people spending six hours on the phone trying to get a decision, and that has left heads defaulting to the bubble [of pupils] stays at home.”
He said without changes to the testing system, there could be a “lockdown by default” with so many classes and school, pupils and staff, at risk.
In a letter printed in The Times, a head teacher outlined the problem.
“Schools have worked incredibly hard to bring back children for a new term, as rightly requested by the government. In return we were promised, and desperately need, a testing system that is efficient and, above all, fast.
“The government has failed to keep its side of the bargain and it is evident that the testing laboratories simply do not have the capacity to cope with the [entirely predictable] increase in demand,” wrote Mark Mortimer of Bryanston School in Dorset.
And another teaching union, the NASUWT has contacted Education Secretary Gavin Williamson threatening legal action for breach of care and injury to staff, The HuffPost reported.
Union' general secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “Teachers, support staff and children and young people are unable to access tests where they have Covid-19 symptoms.
“Employers are struggling to deal with the implications and consequences.”
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said Britain will do whatever it takes to get the Covid-19 testing system working properly,
"Laboratory capacity has been an issue, we are working our way through that," he told Sky News. "We're increasing the number of test centres, we've got 400 test centres, getting it up to 500 but clearly there are still real challenges.
Last week, when schools reopened, about 88 per cent of pupils were present compared with 95 per cent for the same period in 2019, according to Department for Education figures.
The figures also showed about 92 per cent of state schools were fully open on Thursday September 10.
Schools are considered to be not fully open if they cannot provide face-to-face teaching for all pupils for the whole school day and have asked a group of pupils to self-isolate.
Only one in hundred schools said they were not fully open on September 10 due to suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus.
The government is expected to publish its priority list for testing over the next few days and NHS staff is expected to be ahead of school staff.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he did "not shirk from decisions" about who should be prioritised.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Mountain%20Boy
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
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- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
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- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Need to know
When: October 17 until November 10
Cost: Entry is free but some events require prior registration
Where: Various locations including National Theatre (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Cultural Center, Zayed University Promenade, Beach Rotana (Abu Dhabi), Vox Cinemas at Yas Mall, Sharjah Youth Center
What: The Korea Festival will feature art exhibitions, a B-boy dance show, a mini K-pop concert, traditional dance and music performances, food tastings, a beauty seminar, and more.
For more information: www.koreafestivaluae.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
MATCH INFO
Confederations Cup Group B
Germany v Chile
Kick-off: Thursday, 10pm (UAE)
Where: Kazan Arena, Kazan
Watch live: Abu Dhabi Sports HD
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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%3Cp%3E6pm%3A%20Barakka%3Cbr%3E6.35pm%3A%20Dhahabi%3Cbr%3E7.10pm%3A%20Mouheeb%3Cbr%3E7.45pm%3A%20With%20The%20Moonlight%3Cbr%3E8.20pm%3A%20Remorse%3Cbr%3E8.55pm%3A%20Ottoman%20Fleet%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Tranquil%20Night%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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AGUERO'S PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD
Apps: 186
Goals: 127
Assists: 31
Wins: 117
Losses: 33
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
No%20Windmills%20in%20Basra
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MATCH INFO
Azerbaijan 0
Wales 2 (Moore 10', Wilson 34')
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
