Tried to get some clarity from DfE. They say that teachers won’t have to be responsible for conducting the tests directly- though they will have to get schools ready, arrange logistics and supervise testers when they don’t have DBS checks.

I asked DfE who the testers are going to be if not teachers. They said it’ll be a combination of volunteers and support staff. When I asked these thousands of people would come from they said that guidance will be available next week.

Nonetheless, it is DfE’s expectation that this is up and running at the start of January. When I asked about the workload this will placed on teachers the suggestion was that once the system was up and running they don’t think the requirements will be too onerous.

Given how late it is in the year- the idea that a) this will be up and running across England by the start of January b) that the burdens on teachers in so achieving won’t be both seems very optimistic. And if is possible it almost certainly means B isn’t.

DfE sources keen to stress there is precedent for setting up a mass testing programme quickly- it happened in HE. Of course it didn’t happen quite as quickly, for as many people and over Christmas.

Should remember though context is government trying to do something about an issue I’ve been reporting on for ages and which is a big problem: attendance and self isolation in schools. DfE source said capacity was finally there and they want to use it to keep kids in school.

Question is simply whether right now, just before Christmas, with details still being worked out, it’s a credible time frame.