This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7013636.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Firefighters still at school fire | Firefighters still at school fire |
(9 minutes later) | |
More than 1,000 pupils will be off school for the foreseeable future after a suspected arson attack destroyed almost half a secondary school. | |
About 30 firefighters were still at the Sidney Stringer School in Cox Street, Coventry, on Wednesday morning. | About 30 firefighters were still at the Sidney Stringer School in Cox Street, Coventry, on Wednesday morning. |
About 40% of the building is thought to have been wrecked in the fire, which started at 1530 BST on Tuesday. | |
Initial findings led firefighters to believe the blaze was suspicious. Inquiries are continuing. | Initial findings led firefighters to believe the blaze was suspicious. Inquiries are continuing. |
Nearby residents were asked to keep their windows and doors closed overnight because of the threat of asbestos dust from the fire. | Nearby residents were asked to keep their windows and doors closed overnight because of the threat of asbestos dust from the fire. |
'It's horrible' | 'It's horrible' |
Pupils were led out of the affected building as crews arrived. | |
There were no reports of anyone being injured in the incident. | There were no reports of anyone being injured in the incident. |
The two-storey secondary school is in the Hillfields area of Coventry, near the city centre. | The two-storey secondary school is in the Hillfields area of Coventry, near the city centre. |
Images of the school blaze | Images of the school blaze |
Council officials were meeting with head teacher Brian Worrall on Wednesday morning to discuss what would happen to pupils and their education. | |
The city council's education spokesman John Blundell said one possibility was to transfer some lessons to the nearby City College. | The city council's education spokesman John Blundell said one possibility was to transfer some lessons to the nearby City College. |
Mr Worrall said: "The priority is to find a solution for the pupils' education. | Mr Worrall said: "The priority is to find a solution for the pupils' education. |
"We are planning what we can for the children, especially those who have examinations coming up and we hope to have something in place by next week. | "We are planning what we can for the children, especially those who have examinations coming up and we hope to have something in place by next week. |
"It's horrible what's happened. I've been trying not to look at it to be honest." | "It's horrible what's happened. I've been trying not to look at it to be honest." |
The school, which specialises in maths and computing, takes pupils from 11 to 18 and has 1,150 on its books. | The school, which specialises in maths and computing, takes pupils from 11 to 18 and has 1,150 on its books. |
Are you in the area? Did you see the fire? You can send us your comments using the form below: | |