Pupils at fire-damaged school to split so learning can resume
PUPILS from a fire-hit Derby primary school will be split across two locations after the half-term holiday to resume face-to-face learning.
As a short-term solution, older junior children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 from St Mary’s Catholic Academy will be based at St Benedict Catholic Academy, in Duffield Road, from Monday, November 2.
The younger children in nursery, reception and Years 1 and 2 will be at the Diocesan Centre in Mornington Crescent, Mackworth and the neighbouring Christ the King Catholic Church.
At both locations, pupils will remain in bubbles and there are plans for fencing, outdoor space, separate toilets and dining arrangements, ensuring St Mary’s pupils remain safe and segregated from older children on site at all times.
Plans are also being made to secure transport from St Benedict to Mackworth to minimise any disruption to parents/carers who may have children in different year groups.
Drop-off and collection arrangements at St Benedict are in the final stages of being planned and work is taking place to ensure drop-off/collection times of St Mary’s and Saint
Benedict students are staggered to minimise any increase in traffic.
A fire destroyed the school building, in Broadway, Derby, on Saturday, October 3, and since then chil
dren have been learning at home, with work set daily by teachers.
Discussions have been taking place between St Mary’s, the St Ralph Sherwin Trust and the local authority to make short-term, mediumterm and long-term plans for the school community.
A building has been identified for use by St Mary’s pupils as a mediumterm solution until pupils are able to move to the new build. Plans are being made to adapt it and the aim is that all pupils will be able to move in by January 2021.
Sean McClafferty, chief executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said he was pleased the short-term plan had been finalised. He said: “From day one our number one priority has been for face-to-face learning to resume as soon as possible. We know this has been incredibly difficult for everyone involved, particularly for parents, carers and pupils following the home learning that took place throughout lockdown. Staff have also been deeply affected by this, but despite the school building being destroyed, the St Mary’s spirit has remained and we believe that this latest news is a really positive step forward for the school community.”
St Mary’s executive head teacher Amanda Greaves said she was pleased to be able to give the community some good news.
She said: “We will continue to work tirelessly to rejoin the whole school as soon as possible. We thank parents and carers for their unwavering support during this challenging time.”
Head of school Gil Novak-Lemmings said: “Our whole community has been so supportive and we would like to thank them for their patience and kindness.
“We do understand how difficult this has been for everyone especially coming so soon after lockdown. Everyone at St Mary’s is delighted at the prospect of face-to-face learning beginning again.”
Kevin Gritton, head of St Benedict, is looking forward to welcoming staff and pupils from St Mary’s.
He said: “As a neighbouring school and as we are both part of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, we already have strong links.”