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Fire forces primary school to close until half term

Charlie Buckland
BBC News
The whole school were crying as their school went up in flames, says pupil

A school will remain closed until half term after a fire evacuated about 240 pupils and staff.

Five fire engines were called to St Athan Primary school, in the Vale of Glamorgan following a blaze on Wednesday. There were no injuries.

The school previously shut until Friday, but on Thursday confirmed that it would remain closed until after half term to ensure the site is "safe, secure and clean" before reopening.

One grandparent said her daughter's heart "sank to the floor" as she rushed to the school to check her four-year-old son was OK.

Hundreds of pupils, staff, and other workers were evacuated

Deborah Morgan, 55, said her grandson, Alfie, was at the primary school when the fire broke out, and she rang her daughter straight away to inform her.

"Her heart dropped to the floor because she hadn't heard from the school at that point," she said, adding "she rushed down to get Alfie from the school".

"Loads of parents were running past because they'd had texts to say the school was on fire, and fire engines and police were coming through, so it was quite scary for the village," she said.

"And as a grandparent it was very scary."

A woman is looking at the camera, she has dark hair in a shoulder-length bob. She is wearing a black t-shirt and a black hoody with a white sheppskin lining. She is stood in a shop with fruit and veg to the right of her and bottled goods on a shelf to the left of her.
Grandparent Deborah Morgan said she was "very worried" when she seen the fire as her grandson was at the school

Ms Morgan said she believed the fire in the school was located where the older pupils would normally be, but they were all away on a school trip to Llangrannog.

"The main thing is everybody got out safe... everybody is well and no one was hurt," Ms Morgan added.

Speaking of how Alfie is doing, she said he was fine, but a "bit concerned he had to leave his hat, coat and school bag behind".

Jess Warren's son, Ottis, goes to nursery at the school but was picked up 10 minutes before the fire started.

"It's a big relief," said Ms Warren, who said parents were petrified at first because they did not know what was going on or when they could get their kids home at first.

"It was just a shock that it all happened and Ottis wanted to go back to school this morning and I had to tell him it was closed," Ms Warren added.

The school site will be closed until half-term, February 24 to 28, so that damage caused by the fire can be properly assessed and repairs carried out.

Vale of Glamorgan council said remote learning arrangements will be in place next week for pupils, while packed lunches will be available from St Athan Library for pupils entitled to free school meals.

In a statement, the council added that internet-enabled devices are being sourced for any child that needs them and assistance with well-being is also being offered.

South Wales Fire service said work with the local authority was underway to establish the cause of the fire, which started in the roof.