Dozens of pupils disrupted by fire at Kirkcaldy school.

Kirkcaldy: Torbain nursery and P1 pupils will have to wait until Monday

Dozens of young pupils will be unable to start school as planned tomorrow following a blaze at one of Fife’s biggest primaries.

The new intake of primary one children at Torbain Primary School in Kirkcaldy will have to wait until Monday for their first day after Fife Council ruled the damage caused by Saturday’s fire was too serious to allow them to start.

Nursery pupils will also have to be kept at home, but pupils in primaries two to seven will start as planned and will all be housed in the school’s main building.

Concerned parents, who now face having to make alternative childcare arrangements at short notice, said the impact could be huge.

Two local youths have been charged with wilful fireraising in connection with the incident and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.

The school’s infant building, which accommodates the nursery and primaries one and two, was badly damaged by the fire which ripped through it at around 1.45pm.

The boys’ toilets and the staff room were gutted and other areas suffered severe smoke and water damage.

It is believed the fire spread from bench through a window. a

Torbain mum Clair Lawrence, whose four-year-old daughter Maria was due to start her second year of nursery tomorrow, said many children had been left upset by the blaze.

She was still waiting to hear from the school yesterday afternoon regarding arrangements for the pre-schoolers this week.

“But of course the infant building is for primary ones and twos also, so the impact could be huge,” she said.

“I’m concerned about how they can get arrangements in place before Wednesday but mostly I have sympathy for the staff who already have enough to do planning for the new school year.”

She added: “Above all else, it’s upsetting for the small children.

“If it is correct that youths are responsible then I hope they are proud of themselves.”

Neil Finnie, senior compliance officer with Fife Council, said that despite the best efforts of staff, the classrooms were not in a suitable condition for infants and new pupils.

“We want them to start school in a safe and pleasant environment and will welcome them back on Monday August 21 when redecoration and cleaning work will have been concluded,” he said.

“We apologise for the inconvenience and upset for both parents and pupils but obviously these circumstances are beyond our control.

“Vandalism not only costs the council large sums of money, which could be used for other vital local services, it also has a direct impact on young children, families and the wider communites.

“Some families may now be struggling to alter working and childcare arrangements.”

Ifitis correct that youths are responsible then I hope they are proud of themselves. CLAIR LAWRENCE

The school’s infant building was badly damaged in Saturday’s fire.