School that burnt to the ground in devastating blaze to take three years to rebuild

A school that burnt down in a huge blaze is to take three years to rebuild, the council has said. A fire completely devastated the SS Simon & Jude CE Primary School on Newport Road, Great Lever, on Thursday, August 17.

At the height of the blaze, that saw huge plumes of smoke billowing overhead and multiple roads in the area cordoned off, 17 fire engines were tackling the flames.

The building was destroyed, meaning that its students will now be learning from temporary classroom facilities on Walker's Field until the school is rebuilt in order to resume face-to-face teaching 'as quickly as possible'. The works are predicted to take as long as three years.

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The fire, which was spotted by caretaking staff, reportedly started in the roof of the school with much of the building, including 10 classrooms, now left 'completely destroyed'.

And following the fire, CEO of the Vantage Multi Academy Trust, Simon Bramwell, said: "We have suffered a heart wrenching loss. The fire started in the roof space, and then grew in strength and intensity completely destroying the Hall and Stage area, the school kitchen, 10 classrooms and other ancillary areas.

"The fire brigade were very quick to respond. It was spotted quickly by the school’s caretaking staff and nearby builders on site. Everybody got out safely.

"You see it on TV, but until you see guys putting fireproof suits on, you don’t realise how brave they are. There is going to be significant damage, we will have to examine the structure of the school once the fire is extinguished."

In a new statement, a spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “The fire at SS Simon & Jude came as a shock to