A BLAZE has caused tens of thousands of pounds damage at a school.
Bulwell St Mary's CE Primary and Nursery School in Ragdale Road has stayed shut this week, despite hopes it would reopen.
An electrical fault started the fire in a storeroom on Friday.
It was expected children could be taught again on Tuesday, but the school has been so heavily smoke damaged that industrial cleaners have been brought in.
Head teacher Daniel Farthing said: "We didn't think the damage would be this severe, but we've had to get industrial cleaners in and everything is probably going to cost us tens of thousands of pounds.
"It has been a shock to everyone. Everything free-standing in classrooms has had to be removed and thrown away. There have been tears.
"The children have lost a week's education and the impact to parents and carers, who have had to find childcare at short notice after two weeks' holiday is huge," he said.
"We are keeping parents informed through the text alert system and local radio but hope to be back up and running on Monday."
Mr Farthing said the school had been impressed with the amount of help everyone in the community had given.
Michelle Wootton, learning support assistant at the school nursery, said she was devastated when she saw the extent of the damage.
"We had a board of the kids' prayers and wishes and that's all had to go.
"And last year, they produced loads of creative work, which is all in the skip now.
"We all had tears in our eyes when we saw it. It's a shame about all the stuff like the walls and curtains, but these are things we can never replace."
Tesco in Jennison Street, Bulwell, is donating a £500 spending voucher to re-equip the nursery as part of a presentation today.
The only pupils the school was able to teach this week have been from year six, as they use a mobile classroom which was unaffected by the blaze.
Year-six pupil Georgia Badder, 11, of Basford, said: "I feel really sorry for the other kids.
"It's sad to see everything damaged so badly."
Charlie Naylor, 10, of Bulwell, also from year six, said all teachers who had been in the damaged part of the school had smelled of smoke.
"It was a really bad and strong smell," he added. "Hopefully, everything will be back to normal by Monday."
Year six pupils have been provided with packed lunches, arranged by the city council's catering department.
The clean-up and repair costs will be met under the authority's insurance scheme.
Have you been affected by the closure? Contact newsdesk on 0115 905 1967 or email newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk
