Education leaders have praised staff for their unwavering dedication to ensure pupils are able to continue studying in the midst of the pandemic.

In England, school reopened for all age groups on March 8, with attendance compulsory other than for shielding students.

In the region, school gyms have been transformed into Covid-19 mass test centres, with thousands of lateral flow tests having already been carried out at schools in Portishead, Nailsea and Cheddar.

Gordano School, in Portishead, has been testing more than 300 students per day. The team of 40 are working from Monday to Saturday to ensure each year group has received three tests prior to starting home testing starting yesterday (Thursday).

North Somerset Times: By March 15, more than 95 per cent of Gordano students had taken their first test.By March 15, more than 95 per cent of Gordano students had taken their first test. (Image: Gordano School)

By March 15, more than 95 per cent of Gordano students had taken their first test.

Headteacher, Tom Inman said: “It has been heartening to see so many of our current staff step forward to offer their time and embrace a very different role to their normal day jobs, while also supporting each other, our students and several new recruits.

“The team have worked well to get the necessary tests done and results delivered, their tremendous efforts are helping to ensure our students a safe return to school.

"Well done to everyone involved and many thanks for your continued support at this challenging time.”

The Wessex Learning Trust, which oversees Nailsea School, said the first week of reopening had been dominated by thousands of lateral flow tests being carried out, adding its staff ‘rose to the challenge’ to be able to welcome students back to schools across the trust this month.

North Somerset Times: Thousands of lateral flow tests have been carried out across Wessex Learning Trust schools this month.Thousands of lateral flow tests have been carried out across Wessex Learning Trust schools this month. (Image: Wessex Learning Trust)

A spokesman said: “Schools have undergone a huge number of changes in the past year to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

"As much as our focus in the classroom is to provide outstanding learning, it is also to support children’s mental health and wellbeing, through assemblies, mindfulness sessions, or even just giving the children time to play.

“What is clear is how much children love being back at school and how important it has been for them to be back.

“We have navigated with resolve and strength to come out the other end of the pandemic, having done the best we possibly could for our children.”

One year on from the announcement of lockdown, Clevedon School Headteacher Jim Smith has been reflecting on the past 12 months of working in education through the pandemic.

He said: “The school has been phenomenally well supported by the community and it is without doubt that their support has enabled us to achieve so much and have students return to normality so smoothly in the last few weeks.

“It is essential we recognise the positives for our students including the resilience, the agility and development of new skills gained during the past 12 months. Far from a lost generation, they have every opportunity to emerge as a leading generation.

“Finally as a school we recognise the debt of gratitude we owe to the NHS, the vaccine scientists and all those involved in the vaccination roll out.

“It has been a tremendous global and national effort and there is no doubt many of our students will have been inspired to work in health and science."