Three West Norfolk schools join national Covid-19 tracking survey

Staff and students can volunteer to take part

Executive Headteacher, Andy Johnson
Author: Sharon PlummerPublished 13th Nov 2020

Students and staff at three West Norfolk Academies Trust schools are taking part in a major national testing programme to help track the spread of Covid-19.

Springwood, Smithdon and Marshland are among 150 in the country taking part in the infection survey being led by Public Health England, the Office for National Statistics and the London Schools of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Executive Headteacher, Andy Johnson said:

"It is a great opportunity to take part in an important study to monitor infection and transmission of Coronavirus in schools.

"We will be helping paint a national picture on the spread of the virus, as well as creating a local signpost for West Norfolk,"

Taking part in the testing is voluntary and the invitation extends to staff and sixth-form pupils at Springwood High.

At Smithdon High, years 9 and 10 students and staff can be tested while over at Marshland HIgh School years 7 and 8 along with staff can volunteer.

All those taking part will then also be eligible for virus and antibody tests every half term until the end of this academic year.

The first testing sessions have already taken place at both Smithdon and Marshland with Springwood's first session being on Monday (16 November).