Northampton students to be offered testing on return to university after Christmas

Students will be asked to stagger their return to Northampton's university after Christmas to help protect those around them and reduce transmission of Covid-19, the Government has announced.

All universities will be offered extra testing facilities to give students on their return two lateral flow tests, three days apart, with results turned around within an hour to help control the spread of the virus. 

Medical students, those on placements or practical courses with a need for in-person teaching should return in line with their planned start dates. 

While the remaining courses should be offered online from the beginning of term so students can continue their studies from home.

From 25 January, all other students should start to return gradually over a two-week period, and by 7 February all students are expected to have returned.

It comes as The University of Northampton has seen more than 1,000 of their 8,000 students sign up for rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests, ahead of them travelling home for Christmas.

The plans for the spring term follow those enabling students to return home for the Christmas break, with 126 universities offering mass testing for students before they leave in the ‘travel window’ between 3 – 9 December. 

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “The health and wellbeing of students, staff and local communities across Northampton are at the heart of our plans, which is why we are providing mass testing for students and recommending a staggered return to campus.

“These measures will ensure students can help protect themselves and residents in Northampton to keep as safe as possible.”

Students are being asked not to travel to their term-time accommodation until face-to-face courses are scheduled to resume.  

A university spokesman said: “The guidelines released by the Department for Education for a phased return to campus for students in January are complex and every university received them at the same time as the public announcement was made on Wednesday.

"The University of Northampton will thoroughly analyse and assess each suggestion that has been made in order to ensure we implement a tailored return to campus for our students that suits their expectations and learning outcomes - including students whose studies commence in January and those who are due out on placements."

The Office for Students will be monitoring universities to ensure they maintain the quality, quantity and accessibility of their tuition.