Secondary school students and staff can register to get free lateral flow tests to use at home from Thursday 2 September.

There will be 25 for each person to use twice a week, for the next three months.

Most schools will reopen next Tuesday and students are being offered these self-test kits before they come back.

Staff and students will be able to register online here from Thursday 2 September and then pick up their test kits from their nearest parish hall.

They can also be collected from schools from Monday 6 September, when staff will be in for training days.

A campaign will be launched to explain how to use the kits.

"Twice-weekly testing of secondary students and staff will be crucial in helping us manage the spread of the virus as schools start to return. The tests are quick and easy to do, and the results come through within 30 minutes.

"Around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus inadvertently. Lateral Flow Tests detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately. By making self-testing at home available to all secondary schools and staff more cases will be detected, breaking chains of transmission and preventing individual cases from becoming outbreaks.

"COVID-19 has not gone away and we must remember that along with testing we keep in mind hands, face, space, fresh air. It is very important for all those eligible students to attend for vaccination, as soon as possible, if they have not already been vaccinated. Over a third of 16- and 17-year-olds have now received their vaccine, which is excellent news. Vaccination is our single most important defence against COVID and will help maintain normal day to day activity." - Dr. Ivan Muscat, Deputy Medical Officer of Health.

It was announced last week that members of staff in all education settings will be offered a PCR test before returning to the classroom, which can be booked by calling the coronavirus helpline on 0800 735 5566.

Other safety measures will remain in place when schools, colleges, and nurseries reopen to limit the potential spread of the virus, given that many young people haven't been vaccinated.

"Getting tested regularly is one of the simplest and easiest ways we can keep ourselves safe. I’d encourage all secondary students and staff to take up the offer to take a test before returning to school and to then test twice a week from home once they start back.

"I would like to thank the Parish Halls who have kindly agreed to support with the distribution of the Lateral Flow Tests to students this week before they start school. We are also grateful to the secondary schools who will be offering collection next Monday, during their INSET day, for students to pick up their tests before they return the following day.

"It is vital that we do everything possible for children and young people to attend school. Officials from the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department have worked hard throughout the summer with schools to ensure measures are in place before students and staff return. This includes offering all staff PCR testing and all secondary students a Lateral Flow Tests before school starts, keeping classroom bubbles, asking all staff and secondary students to continue to wear masks in corridors and issuing reminders to ensure good personal and environmental hygiene." - Deputy Scott Wickenden, Children and Education Minister.

When students register, they will be given a personalised code to use when collecting the tests.

They can be collected from the Children's Department reception at Highlands Campus and from these parish halls:

• St. Saviour
• St. Lawrence
• St. Brelade
• Grouville
• St. Ouen
• St. Helier
• St. John
• St. Clements