The leader of a Long Eaton school which was destroyed in a huge fire has issued a statement to update parents, pupils and teachers.
Harrington Junior School caught alight just after noon on Thursday, May 28, when a fire on its roof spread to the entire building and damaged the site beyond repair.
Fire crews from three counties attempted to extinguish the blaze, with thick black smoke seen from miles away and large flames engulfing the building.
Luckily no pupils were in school when the fire broke out. A small number of staff were evacuated.
In a statement, the school has said it plans to hold meetings and discussions this week regarding its future but that it does not plan to make any major decisions yet.
A spokesperson for the school said: "Next week I will be continuing to work with the local authority regarding the future of Harrington.
"As you can imagine there are many meetings and discussions to take place and, due to this, there will be no decisions regarding what happens next for at least a week.
"Please be patient - as soon as we have news to share, we will."
Fire crews remained at the scene for most of Thursday night and into Friday morning, with the cause of the fire being deemed as "accidental" - starting as a result of an ongoing refurbishment.
Two firefighters were injured while tackling the blaze, who are now recovering after being discharged from hospital.
Incident commander Dean Gazzard, group manager for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Workers carrying out the refurbishment of the school did everything they could to contain the fire and prevent its spread before the arrival of firefighters.
“Fire crews worked in extreme heat, and challenging conditions, but, despite everyone’s efforts, the school was totally destroyed by the rapidly spreading fire.
“The service sends its thoughts to everyone affected by the loss of Harrington School. Schools are at the heart of every community and we know the consequences of this fire will be felt heavily across the communities of Long Eaton.”
A community fundraiser has been launched to support teachers and pupils following the fire - raising more than £2,000 in just a few days. The fundraiser is available here.
It has been set up by resident Elizabeth Mann, from Long Eaton, who wants to "put the smiles back" on their faces.
"Schools are a place for learning but ultimately they are far more than that", she said.
"They are an integral part of the community that are there for the people they serve. They provide safety, nurturing and signposting to services that are required. They are there for support to all who need it.
"This pandemic has shown schools are vital for their communities and in less than an hour, Harrington Junior School, a school that was loved by past and present staff, pupils and their families has been devastated by fire.
"Please give what is possible as a small donation will help to put the smiles back on the staff and pupils' faces.
"It will be entirely down to the school how they want to use these incredible donations. It is not there though for the rebuild, it is there for the staff and the children."
