Selsey Academy students found homes while temporary structure built

The Academy Selsey has announced a temporary structure is to be builtThe Academy Selsey has announced a temporary structure is to be built
The Academy Selsey has announced a temporary structure is to be built

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The new term has been delayed slightly for The Academy Selsey students but they have been found bases in the town and a temporary structure to accommodate them all has been promised.

In a letter sent to parents today (Thursday August 25), headteacher Tom Garfield said: “I can confirm that a temporary structure to accommodate all 400 students will be constructed on The Academy Selsey site over the coming weeks.

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“We anticipate that this structure will be completed and operational by early autumn.

“There will be an interim period while the temporary structure is finalised and, during this time, provision will be made for students at four locations in the Selsey area.”

Year 7 and 8 will be going to Selsey Town Hall, High Street, and the building which previously housed Selsey works in East Street.

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Year 9 will be based at The Academy Selsey Sports Centre at School Lane.

Bunn Leisure, West Sands Holiday Village, will be the base for Year 10 and 11, with some specialist lessons at Chichester High School.

Mr Garfield said: “The destruction caused by Sunday’s fire has been an immense shock to our community.

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“In this very difficult time, I would like to begin by thanking you all for your support, we have been humbled by the response.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to give my thanks to the individuals and local organisations who have made so many practical offers of help and support.

“Since the fire, the West Sussex Fire Service has been working hard to secure The Academy Selsey site.

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“While the emergency crews have been on site, we have been working with the local authorities, Department for Education and our academy sponsor, The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), to put in place plans for the start of the school term and ensure we minimise disruption to our students, including those collecting GCSE results today.”

To allow the school to prepare the curriculum and resources for the new spaces, he said they would have to delay the start of term slightly.

“I am sorry for any difficulty these arrangements will cause, but the extra time is essential to allow staff extra time to prepare to teach in these new surroundings,” he said.

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“Finally, this is the time of year when our focus should be on celebrating the achievements of our young people who this year again gained results which reflect their hard work throughout the year.

“We are incredibly proud of the efforts of our students who could not have succeeded without the skilled and dedicated support of their teachers and other staff.

“It is the people not the building that makes The Academy the school that it is.

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“We’d like to reassure you that, supported by The Kemnal Academies Trust, Governors, the senior leadership team, teachers and other staff, The Academy will ensure that all the children will still receive a high quality and successful education.

Karen Roberts, CEO of TKAT, the trust that runs the academy, said: “We’d also like to thank the Department for Education, local authorities and the local community for the overwhelming support we have received over the past five days. Over the coming weeks, we will be working to finalise plans for The Academy Selsey and as soon as these are agreed, we will share them.”

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