Fire-damaged school prepares to fully reopen

Alison Pope said the commitment of her staff had been 'inspiring'

A school that was forced to close following a major fire will fully reopen on Friday.

St Martins School near Oswestry, in Shropshire, suffered "extensive damage" during the fire on 21 September, which headteacher Alison Pope said had "tested our resilience".

Year 11 students were able to resume face-to-face teaching when North Shropshire College offered them space on 6 October, which was followed by a "phased return" to the classroom.

Ms Pope said her staff had "worked tirelessly" to keep teaching going, and their commitment and professionalism had been "nothing short of inspiring".

The school, which educates children from age three to 16, confirmed the fire had caused damage across the entire site, including an art centre and dining room.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service later said the blaze had been caused by an electrical issue.

Ms Pope, who had been in the job for just three weeks when the fire happened, said: "What began as a moment of devastation has since become a story of teamwork, determination, and community spirit."

She added there was still repair work to be done, but the incident had also been a reminder that "a school is far more than just its buildings".

Work to get the site fully reopened had taken place at a "remarkable pace" she said, and Friday would be a milestone for the school.

She thanked the contractors, the local authority, the emergency services, other schools which had given their support, as well as parents, carers and local residents.

"We move forward with renewed energy and optimism," she said.