A High Wycombe school is setting up a new Covid-19 testing centre amid concerns at the spread of the Omicron variant.

Wycombe High School is preparing the new centre so that all students can be tested prior to returning to school after the Christmas holidays.

The announcement comes on the same day that the Department of Education(DfE) "strongly advises" students to wear masks in communal areas for all schools in England.

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The DfE said its guidance was temporary and would be reviewed in three weeks.

However, for most secondary schools there is only roughly three weeks left of the Christmas term.

Headteacher, Sharon Cromie said: “The next three weeks will be a busy period getting all that set up.

“I am surmising that the government are wanting to see if the spread of the new variant is taking hold by that time”.

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The DfE also said staff and students should continue to test themselves twice a week, using lateral flow tests.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the government is "already taking targeted and proportionate action as a precaution while we find out more information about the new variant".

He added: "As we do, we will continue to prioritise children's and young people's education and wellbeing, making sure education and childcare settings are as safe as possible and children continue to benefit from classroom teaching."

The government also announced that face masks would once again become mandatory in shops and on public transport in England from Tuesday (November 30).