Burned-out school will be rebuilt by Christmas
John Phillips AN infant school destroyed in a five-hour blaze is to be rebuilt by Christmas, education chiefs revealed yesterday (Wednesday). Cambell Infant School, Langley Crescent, Dagenham, was wrecked in the accidental blaze as flames engulfed the ground floor caus
John Phillips
AN infant school destroyed in a five-hour blaze is to be rebuilt by Christmas, education chiefs revealed yesterday (Wednesday).
Cambell Infant School, Langley Crescent, Dagenham, was wrecked in the accidental blaze as flames engulfed the ground floor causing the roof to collapse on Thursday morning.
Teachers and parents were left in tears as their 1930s school burned down following a suspected electrical fault at 6.l5am.
All 280 pupils are now studying in the adjacent junior school in Langley Crescent as council chiefs unveil an ambitious 10-month rebuilding programme.
Only the 80 or so nursery children have been left out of the loop owing to lack of space, but it is hoped they will be taught at Cambell Junior next month.
Most Read
- 1 70 firefighters tackle Dagenham house fire
- 2 Council leader on the borough's future, CPZs and receiving death threats
- 3 Dagenham cat with misshapen eye struggles to find home
- 4 Cycling festival coming to Barking
- 5 'Staffing crisis' means children's hospice cannot offer end of life care
- 6 Schools and staff across east London up for national awards
- 7 How the proposed energy price cap changes could affect your bills
- 8 Baby boy died from 'whiplash' injuries caused by shaking, trial hears
- 9 Boy, 5, dies after 'unexplained' incident off Heathway
- 10 Dagenham woman to face trial on numerous robbery charges
Barking and Dagenham Council is hoping to bring fire damaged areas back into use within the next three to four weeks.
Pupils have been forced to bring in packed lunches, the dining hall being used for classes, but a dedicated lunch area is to open in mid-March.
A council spokesman said: "The more extensive work to replace further damaged timbers and roof covering and to carry out redecoration and any internal refurbishments to the remainder of the infants' building will be progressed, but this is likely to take through until Christmas.