Northenden Community School was set to reopen on Monday (Nov 10) to all its pupils just over a week after part of its roof was destroyed in a fire.

The school’s hall was damaged by a blaze which started at 9pm on the evening of Halloween. Classrooms were unaffected, but the school was closed while surveyors assessed the damage and for work to begin on the roof.

Planned weekend work in school was completed ahead of schedule with teams working to erect scaffolding in the hall so that work on installing a temporary roof can begin safely on Monday (Nov 10).

Head teacher Ian Beard said on the school’s website, all pupils would be able to return to the school and pre and after-school clubs could begin again.

Mr Beard, thanked parents and staff and said the school faced a number of challenges before getting back to normal. He said: “Our school hall will be out of action for quite some time and this will affect the way in which we do many things, not least moving from one area of the building to another, particularly from the office area to classrooms.

“The children’s movements will be restricted to the rear of the building and any reasons for them to visit the office will be minimised.  Children will be briefed on Monday morning about the situation and the new routines in place.  It will take us a few days to get used to a new way of working, I am sure.”

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