Education Minister to Meet MP on Student Return After School Fire

Education Minister Josh MacAlister is set to meet with North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan following her concerns raised in Parliament about the impact of a fire at St Martins School. The fire, which occurred on September 21, has left many students without face-to-face learning for over a month.

The incident severely damaged the school’s arts centre, dining area, roof, and solar panels, and rendered essential facilities such as toilets and water inoperable. As a result, a significant number of students have been unable to return to their classrooms. During her visit to the affected site, Morgan engaged with headteacher Alison Pope to assess the damage and discuss efforts to facilitate the return of all students.

In Parliament, Morgan emphasized the necessity for swift action, stating, “The solidarity shown by the community in St Martins has been really impressive, but it’s crucial that all children are brought back on-site full time as soon as possible.” She underscored that this could only happen once safety measures are guaranteed.

Temporary facilities are currently being put in place, and Morgan has called upon the Department for Education to expedite the restoration of full, face-to-face learning for all secondary students.

In response, Minister MacAlister expressed his willingness to meet with Morgan to ensure that students can return to proper classrooms as soon as possible. “I would be very happy to meet with the North Shropshire MP,” he said.

While primary pupils have already returned to the classroom, challenges remain for secondary students. Currently, more than 150 secondary students are attending lessons in the school’s maths and humanities block, including Year 10 pupils who are completing their mock language exams. However, not all secondary students have been able to resume in-person classes.

Headteacher Pope stated that a complete reopening hinges on the restoration of critical services, particularly the school’s water supply. She provided an update, noting, “Work continues with getting students back into the secondary area of school. Our site team and contractors will be working each day to connect our demountables to utilities and prepare them internally for students.”

Pope mentioned that this process is likely to necessitate adjustments to teaching schedules, as the school navigates the challenges of operating with reduced outdoor areas.

The local community has rallied to support the school in the aftermath of the fire. Facilities such as the community centre and Stans Superstore have offered practical assistance, while a fundraiser was launched shortly after the incident, successfully raising over £2,500 to aid recovery efforts.

As the situation develops, both the school administration and local representatives remain committed to ensuring that all students can return to a safe and conducive learning environment as swiftly as possible.