A written States question from Deputy Carina Alves revealed that of the 2,796 eligible students, 36% were tested in the first half of the spring term.
It was also revealed that one of these tests had returned a positive Covid result and one had led to a PCR test but that subsequent test had returned a negative result.
Students in years 11 to 13 in all Jersey schools and those in years 11 to 15 at Highlands College are eligible for testing, which Education Minister Jeremy Maçon, in response to the question, said was in accordance with STAC advice.
Deputy Maçon said testing was offered weekly on days that suited the school timetable.
The voluntary programme was piloted and rolled out in the first half of the term. Training for schools took place in January, along with successful trials at Les Quennevais and Jersey College for Girls.
The government has called the testing programme ‘an additional layer of preventative safety measures’.
Deputy Maçon added that from Monday this week lateral flow testing was due to be available to all eligible students and staff on a weekly basis.
Lateral flow tests deliver results in around 30 minutes, while laboratory analysis is required for PCR swabs.
