COUNTY NEWS: School destroyed by fire reopens new '˜temporary teaching village'

A school which was left in ruins after a devastating fire has regained its sense of community today following the unveiling of a new '˜temporary teaching village'.
ks16001163-9 Sels Academy New  phot kate
The head chatting to pupils and their parent about the temporary new academy.ks16001163-9 SUS-161031-192317008ks16001163-9 Sels Academy New  phot kate
The head chatting to pupils and their parent about the temporary new academy.ks16001163-9 SUS-161031-192317008
ks16001163-9 Sels Academy New phot kate The head chatting to pupils and their parent about the temporary new academy.ks16001163-9 SUS-161031-192317008

In just over two months since the blaze broke out at Selsey Academy, students have now been welcomed back with opened arms.

Headteacher Tom Garfield expressed his ‘delight’ at being able to reunite the school once again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “The most important thing is the school community that we have worked so hard to retain.

ks16001163-5 Sels Academy New  phot kate
Parents and pupils visit the new food studies department.ks16001163-5 SUS-161031-192134008ks16001163-5 Sels Academy New  phot kate
Parents and pupils visit the new food studies department.ks16001163-5 SUS-161031-192134008
ks16001163-5 Sels Academy New phot kate Parents and pupils visit the new food studies department.ks16001163-5 SUS-161031-192134008

“This is the 56th working day since the fire it has been a very short turn around – this amount of work would normally take five months.

“Everyone has worked tirelessly to get to this point.”

Parents and students were invited down to see the new teaching facilities on Monday, October 31, before the pupils began school again today (Tuesday).

Mr Garfield added: “I am delighted with the response we have received today from parents, we want the best education for their children and to see today how pleased they are with the outcome shows how far we have come.

ks16001163-7 Sels Academy New  phot kate
Looking around what will be the new music department.ks16001163-7 SUS-161031-192243008ks16001163-7 Sels Academy New  phot kate
Looking around what will be the new music department.ks16001163-7 SUS-161031-192243008
ks16001163-7 Sels Academy New phot kate Looking around what will be the new music department.ks16001163-7 SUS-161031-192243008
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We have worked hard these past few months to keep lessons the same and retain the sense or normality, but now we will get back our community.”

Assistant headteacher Gemma Hinton added that for the year seven students it will be like a ‘second first day’.

Parents were equally as impressed at the hard work gone into the construction of the new buildings.

Kelly Johnson, parents of year seven student Riley Johnson, said: “After the fire we didn’t even know if there was going to be a school.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It will be like starting again for Riley and the other year sevens.

“The facilities are amazing, it is unbelievable how quickly it has fallen into place.”

Gemma Senior agreed: “It is heart warming to see people band together in times like this and work it out for the children.

“At the end of the day their education is the most important thing.”

Do you have a story to tell? Send an email to [email protected].

Related topics: