The Department for Education (DfE) has announced that secondary school pupils will be mass tested when schools reopen on 8 March 2021, following the temporary lockdown imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). From 8 March 2021, all secondary school and college students will take three coronavirus tests at existing school testing facilities, with schools and colleges free to decide how to test students in this first week to enable their return to the classroom. After this initial testing programme, students will be provided with two rapid tests to use at home each week. Staff will likewise be provided with two tests to use at home per week. The Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: ‘I am very pleased that regular testing is now supporting the reopening of schools and face-to-face education.’