Education Minister to Meet MP Over St Martins School Fire Recovery

Education Minister Josh MacAlister has agreed to meet with North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by students at St Martins School following a significant fire that occurred on September 21. The incident has left many pupils without access to face-to-face learning for nearly a month, prompting urgent calls for action.

The fire severely damaged critical areas of the school, including the arts centre, dining area, roof, and solar panels. In addition, essential facilities such as toilets and water supply were compromised, resulting in many students being unable to return to their classrooms. During a visit to the school, Morgan met with headteacher Alison Pope to assess the extent of the damage and to provide support for efforts to enable all students to resume on-site learning.

Efforts Underway for Student Reintegration

As temporary buildings are being installed on the school grounds, Morgan has urged the Department for Education to expedite the restoration of full, face-to-face learning for secondary students. “The solidarity shown by the community in St Martins has been really impressive,” Morgan stated. “But it’s crucial that all children are brought back on-site full-time as soon as possible. That can’t happen until their safety can be guaranteed.”

In response to Morgan’s concerns, MacAlister expressed his willingness to collaborate with her in ensuring that students return to proper classrooms at the earliest opportunity.

Since the fire, primary stage pupils have successfully returned to the classroom. More than 150 secondary students have also begun attending daily lessons in the school’s maths and humanities block. Year 10 pupils have recently returned to take their mock language speaking and listening exams. Despite these efforts, not all secondary students have been able to return.

Headteacher Alison Pope has indicated that the full reopening of the school is contingent upon the restoration of essential services, particularly the water supply. In a recent update, she noted, “Work continues with getting students back into the secondary area of school. We have a two-week half-term break, and our site team and contractors will be working each day to connect our demountables to utilities and prepare them internally for students.”

Community Support and Fundraising Efforts

Morgan has commended the St Martins community for its swift response to support the school. Local organizations, including the community centre and Stans Superstore, have offered practical assistance. A fundraiser launched shortly after the fire has raised over £2,500 to aid recovery efforts.

“Our team and I will be working on the arrangements for teaching and managing students safely with reduced outside areas,” Pope added. “This is likely to require changes to timetables.” The focus remains on ensuring that students receive the education they need while prioritizing their safety.

The meeting between MacAlister and Morgan is anticipated to be an important step towards facilitating a full return to normalcy for the students of St Martins School as the community continues to rally behind its educational institution in this challenging time.