Retford: Flood-hit school 'ends term on high' at new site

Pupils have been busy rehearsing for a Christmas show at their new base

Pupils whose school was damaged by flooding have been getting ready for Christmas at a temporary site.

Due to the extensive repairs needed at Thrumpton Primary Academy, in Retford, Nottinghamshire, it is not expected to reopen until at least September.

Pupils were home-schooled after Storm Babet in October before they moved to the temporary premises on 27 November.

The head teacher said they were "ending the term on a high" with the Christmas show at their new site on Tuesday.

As Storm Babet struck during half-term, pupils were home-schooled from 6 November until they moved to the temporary base three weeks later.

Water flooded the school building and surrounding houses after Storm Babet in October

Floors, plaster, doors, furniture and teaching resources needed to be replaced after flood water, including sewage, got into the whole building.

The school - which has about 200 pupils - has temporarily moved to an old sixth form science block at Retford Education Centre.

Head teacher Rebecca Hurley said: "It was designed for 16 to 19 year olds so we have worked incredibly hard with our staff team, site team and the trust to get it into this safe and vibrant learning environment as quickly as we could.

"We had to put up fencing to make sure the area was secure. We have had to secure the corridors so the children were safe."

Head teacher Rebecca Hurley said "to have everybody in one space has been fantastic"

She added they also put in child-size furniture, toilets, and displays, as well as giving it the "Thrumpton vibe".

"We managed to do it in just 15 school days," Ms Hurley said.

She added: "It was massively important that we kept our community together... to have everybody in one space has been fantastic."

Pupil Ifraadh said he was "amazed with how fast the teachers got everything together"

The pupils have been busy rehearsing for their Christmas show.

Ms Hurley said: "It is really important after these challenging few weeks we have an opportunity to celebrate, get into the festive spirit and end the term on a high."

Pupil Ifraadh said when school flooded "it was really heartbreaking".

He added: "We had a day where we could all visit the school before it opened. I was really happy because it was like normal school."

Karma said her classroom was "just a little bit different"

Karma, 11, said: "It felt quite overwhelming seeing the school we grew up in get flooded."

But she said she was happy now "because we are all together and not separated".

"It feels like we are at Thrumpton... all the learning is the same and it looks like the classroom, just a little bit different," she added.