Fire safety fears over absence of detectors

EIS calls for review

A teaching union has called for a review of school fire safety arrangements after pupils evacuated during a blaze returned to the classroom.

Almost 200 children were led to safety when Cairneyhill Primary School was engulfed by flames last Friday.

A week on, lessons resumed for the pupils at Tulliallan Primary School, where they will stay until Easter.

Fife EIS echoed worries expressed by parents after The Courier revealed the blaze was discovered when a security alarm was activated – and not by a fire alarm.

Union spokesman David Farmer said: “Fife EIS have real concerns in the aftermath of the recent fire at Cairneyhill Primary School.

“Aside from the disruption to pupils, parents and staff, the revelation that there was no smoke detection system raised serious concerns.

“Whilst there might be no statutory responsibility for such systems in certain types of building there is also the need to reassure everyone involved in Fife schools.

“Fife EIS calls on the education service to review fire safety arrangements in every Fife school and to make the results of that review public.”

Head of education Shelagh McLean insisted the region’s schools complied with safety requirements.

She said Cairneyhill had an electrical fire alarm system with manual call points, which is considered acceptable and is common for the type of building.

Around 200 pupils were bussed seven miles from Cairneyhill to Tulliallan Primary School for the first time yesterday.

The rear of their own school building will have to be rebuilt and it is expected to be April before pupils can return.

Parents who were dropping off and collecting their children at the bus stop praised staff for the way they handled the upheaval.

Lesley Bennett, whose daughter Arya is in P2, said: “It was a bit chaotic this morning but it’s the first day and that’s to be expected.

“It must be a logistical nightmare for the head teacher but that’s only a week and they are back.

“We are glad the kids have been kept together rather than being scattered between different schools.”

Adrian Carter’s daughter Kaiya is in P1. He said staff had reacted well, especially on the day of the fire, and Kaiya said she had enjoyed her first day at her temporary new school.

Head teacher Fiona Hall said: “I’m pleased to report the children were safely on their buses first thing and happily settled in to their new classrooms soon after.”

Most pupils are going to Tulliallan, with P6 and 7 classes in nearby Kincardine Community Hall and nursery children going to Crossford Primary.

The council had no insurance for personal belongings lost in the fire and will be unable to reimburse families, although the parent council is trying to help with lost property.