Trip after school blaze
Community praised
Primary children as young as five will make a 24-mile daily commute following a blaze at their school.
Fire crews last Monday evening battled through the night to tackle the blaze at Ballantrae Primary.
The fire caused damage to the classrooms and nursery, but a new extension was unaffected.
A total of 58 P1-7 primary pupils were to make the move to Girvan Primary - a 24 mile daily commute.
Plans were a underway to relocate the 13 early years children to Ballantrae Community Centre.
Head teacher Yvonne Templeton said: “Our move, meantime, to Girvan Primary, allows us to stay together as one school. Whilst we will become a school within another school, we will remain Ballantrae Primary.
“Our children will remain in their own classes with their own teachers. We will continue with our plans for school trips, ACE days and BBQs. The warmth and welcome by the staff, children and parents of Girvan Primary school has been incredibly touching and I thank them for their generosity.”
Ms Templeton said the fire had left the village and school community shocked and devastated at the loss
She said: “It is during difficult times that we get to see people’s kindness, generosity and compassion coming to the fore.
“I know we are a tough, hardworking and resilient wee school, and have every faith that we’ll bounce back from this.”
Tory MP Bill Grant added: “Having been a firefighter for over 30 years I feel for the loss of the village school, the class work and the history lost due to the devastating fire.
“My thanks to the firefighters who responded and I’m sure the community of Ballantrae will rally around and work with the council to replace the school that is very much at the heart of the community.”