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Left in ruins
From the Guardian Series, first published Friday 15th Oct 2004.
EDUCATION bosses are seeking alternative places for 110 children from a school devastated by fire.
Staff watched in tears as a large part of The Meadows Special School in Biddulph went up in flames.
Six classrooms used by the older children were gutted in the fire, along with the kitchen, office and main hall.
However the efforts of 50 firefighters succeeded in saving the administration block and the IT unit.
Staffordshire Education Authority said the school would remain closed for the foreseeable future.
"The fire was extremely serious, and has left large parts of the building in ruins," said a authority spokesman.
"The county council is doing all it can to get the pupils back into education.
"Due to the extent of the damage the school will remain closed for the foreseeable future, and alternative venues to accommodate pupils are being sought."
A meeting is to take place today to finalise details, and parents, staff and pupils are being kept fully informed.
The spokesman added that the financial cost of the fire was likely to be considerable.
The school caters for 110 children with moderate learning difficulties aged between two and 19.
Last Wednesday's fire started just after 3pm, with the school due to break up at 3.30pm.
Andrew Cucyk, chairman of the governors at The Meadows, said the fire alarm went off at 3.17pm, and staff led the children to safety.
"The staff did a brilliant job of evacuating the pupils," he said.
Mr Cucyk heard about the fire, and arrived to see firefighters tackling the blaze.
"Flames were coming out of the back of the school, and staff were crying and sobbing as they stood and watched.
"The children are quite upset, and they and the staff have lost a lot of work in the fire.
"The main priority is to get the children back into education."
The blaze was attended by 10 fire engines, and Mr Cucyk praised the firefighters.
His thanks were echoed by corporate education director Peter Traves.
"I would like to thank all the staff for helping make sure everyone was evacuated safely, and the fire service, who have been incredible," he said.
"This has been a terrible shock to everyone, and we are very grateful everyone is safe."
The cause of the fire is being investigated, but is not being treated as suspicious.
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