'Real joy' as pupils return to flood-hit school

Neil Bardsley, the school's executive head teacher, says "the school has been beautifully refurbished"

A primary school which was forced to close its classrooms due to floods has welcomed pupils back for the start of a new term after refurbishment work was completed.

Every classroom at St Michaels and All Angels CE Primary School in Rearsby, Leicestershire, was flooded on 6 January, executive head teacher Neil Bardsley said.

Pupils were forced to catch a bus to nearby St Peters and St Pauls School in nearby Syston, where they used spare classrooms while the repairs were carried out.

But they returned to their primary school on Tuesday 26 August, after it was refurbished with new learning spaces, including a new library.

A new library has been created at the school

A community-led push helped replace books and equipment and the school will host an official re-opening event on 5 September, where businesses and members of the community who donated resources can look round the newly-renovated site.

Mr Bardsley said: "It was a real joy to welcome children and parents back to St Michael & All Angels Primary School in Rearsby this morning, following the flooding earlier this year in January 2025.

"The children returned full of excitement and have already settled back into school life with great enthusiasm.

"We are deeply grateful to everyone who has played a part, in ways both big and small, in helping us rebuild and restore our school."

The grand re-opening will allow people to tour the new building and celebrate the refurbishment.

The event will also include pupil-led exhibitions about the school's history.