Children from a Church of England primary school in Norfolk will start the term remotely following a fire during the recent heatwave. The fire on 13th August, caused extensive damage to the Thomas Bullock Primary Academy in Shipdham in Norfolk.
Today a letter was sent to all parents and carers to explain what will happen at the start of the new term in September.
A decision has been made to follow the standard Norfolk Schools calendar and open for remote learning on 3rd September. For the new reception intake, home visits will go ahead as previously agreed with the parents and carers.
The cause of the accidental fire was also revealed today by the Norfolk Fire Service. The fire was caused by refracted light from a Perspex canopy in the reception outdoor area at the front of the school.
Staff have met with loss adjusters at the site and are working to arrange temporary accommodation as soon as it is safe to do so.
Oliver Burwood is Chief Executive Officer at the Diocese of Norwich Education Academies Trust (DNEAT). Oliver says:
‘We have felt really supported by the whole Shipdham community and our absolute focus, as a school and a Trust, is ensuring that we can continue to provide an outstanding education for the children, on the school site, as soon as possible. In the very short term, effective remote learning will be put in place for the first seven days of term. The coordination of the temporary accommodation has begun. We ask for further understanding as we get things set up. We will continue to communicate frequently with families and to update them as plans develop and we learn more.’
Shannon O’Sullivan is the Executive Headteacher at Thomas Bullock Primary Academy. Sharon says;
‘The incredible outpouring of support has been genuinely heartwarming and inspiring. The JustGiving page, set up by our Friends of Shipdham School is hugely generous and will be very supportive in ensuring continuity of excellence remains. At this time, our main priority is maintaining excellent on-site learning for our pupils, which we are working at with incredible speed. Our strength has never been defined by our building but by our community, families, pupils, wonderful staff and values. These foundations and the heart of our school remain clearly and firmly in place.’