CORONAVIRUS testing is underway in Herefordshire's secondary schools as staff are checked twice a week to see if they have Covid-19.

The Government had been planning to test all schoolchildren regularly using the lateral flow tests, which return a result within one hour.

But with the emergence of new variants, these plans were put on-hold for most schools.

In some Herefordshire secondary schools, the pupils who are not learning from home are being tested, along with staff.

At Ledbury's John Masefield High School in Mabel's Furlong, all children whose parents have consented to be tested have been checked.

Hereford Times: Headteacher of John Masefield High School Andrew Evans Headteacher of John Masefield High School Andrew Evans

Headteacher Andrew Evans said: "Our testing team has now completed two lateral flow tests for every student who is attending skeleton school and has given consent for testing.

"This is nearly all the students who have attended skeleton school. We would like to thank all of the parents and students who gave consent as this is a helpful contribution to keeping everyone safe.

"In addition, the testing team are carrying out approximately 140 staff tests per week. We greatly appreciate the excellent work of the volunteers who are members of our testing team in making JMHS a safer place to work and learn."

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It's a similar situation at St Mary's RC High School in Lugwardine.

In a letter to parents on January 29, headteacher Stuart Weston said: "At school we have also got our Covid test centre fully up and running, and to date we have successfully conducted over 400 lateral flow tests – all of which have been negative.

"In line with government guidance, we are currently testing those staff who are in school twice a week together with our vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers.

"We envisage having the test centre in place for the return of all pupils whenever that may be and unless guidance around testing changes in the interim."

On Monday, headteacher at John Kyrle High School in Ross-on-Wye Nigel Griffiths said the testing team had been impressed with the response from pupils.

Hereford Times: Headteacher Nigel Griffiths, left, with site manager Andrew James at John Kyrle High School Headteacher Nigel Griffiths, left, with site manager Andrew James at John Kyrle High School

Mr Griffiths said the school had tested 47 staff and 56 students by Thursday.

"Despite being understandably nervous, the student who have tested so far across all year groups have been courteous, engaged and resilient," the testing team said.

"Staff involved with the testing have been very impressed and we are very proud of how all the students have coped with this process."

While students are currently being tested in some schools, it's not yet clear how it will be organised once schools reopen to all pupils.