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Two Derby schools that were hit by devastating fires in the space of three days had no sprinkler systems in the buildings that caught fire.
St. Mary’s Voluntary Catholic Academy in Darley Abbey burned down on Saturday, October 3, while the Ravensdale Nursery School in Mickleover caught fire on Monday, October 5.
Fire chiefs revealed that none of the schools had sprinkler systems installed to prevent or delay the spread of the flames.
Parents and teachers at both schools were shocked by the events, which left buildings with such substantial damage that children can no longer return to the classroom just weeks after the new school year.
Although investigations into the cause of the two fires this week are still ongoing, the National Council of Fire Chiefs has said there were no sprinklers in the buildings that caught fire.
The two recent fires also occurred months after a major fire destroyed buildings at Harrington Junior School in Long Eaton, a site that also did not have sprinklers in place.
Derbyshire Fire Chief Gavin Tomlinson said not having sprinklers in place has had huge consequences and is calling on the government to lay down the law to install them.
“It is absolutely heartbreaking to see the devastation caused by the fire in two Derbyshire schools in the last 48 hours,” he said.
“The effect that the loss of a school has on the community is enormous. A school is right in the heart of a community, providing our children with the education they need, so to see this taken away from them at a time when schools are just beginning to recover after Covid closure restrictions, is a huge impact and totally unacceptable when there are fire safety measures that can prevent such devastation.
“In recent years, through the National Council of Fire Chiefs, we have been asking the government to make changes to fire safety legislation that would make installed sprinklers mandatory in all new and renovated schools.
(Image: Gavin Tomlinson)
“Sprinklers are one of a range of fire safety measures that would not only protect our schools from fires and prevent injury, but also protect against costly rebuilds and, of course, protect against stress and anxiety caused to the children who need their education. . “
CFO Tomlinson, who is also the National Fire Council’s sprinkler leader, said that it is not good enough that schools in other parts of the UK have to install sprinklers by law, while English schools do not.
He said: ‘I’m not sure what further evidence is needed to bring the legislation in line with Scotland and Wales where sprinklers are required to be installed and the government here in England to realize and more importantly take action. we have a responsibility to build safer schools. “
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Sean McClafferty, executive director of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, which runs the St Mary Voluntary Catholic Academy, said there were no legal requirements for sprinklers when the school was built.
He said: “There is currently no legal requirement for existing schools to have sprinkler systems and St. Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy was built prior to 2007, when there were some changes to the government’s guidance on sprinkler systems.”
Cllr Evonne Williams, a member of the Derby City Council’s children and youth cabinet, said remote learning will be offered to students in the first instance until safe spaces can be agreed for the bubbles of children and staff to move in.
She said: “My thanks to colleagues here who have worked over the weekend to help schools and keep councilors and partners informed.
“Our schools are at the heart of our communities. Losing a school has a huge impact on the community, and it’s fair to say that at an already uncertain time, due to COVID-19, the last thing our children need is more interruptions. Simply put. makes these incidents even more devastating for the community.
“The important thing right now is the affected school communities, and we will do everything we can to support them. Both schools are in direct contact with parents and caregivers. Social care colleagues are supporting schools to identify and support vulnerable students. , and also those who were accessing free school meals so we can determine how we continue to access them. “
He confirmed that there were no sprinkler systems in any of the schools.
He said: “There is currently no legal requirement for existing schools to have sprinkler systems. Since the changes in Government guidelines in 2007, modernizing sprinkler systems is an option that must now be included in risk assessments when Major reforms are being considered, England lags behind Scotland and Wales when it comes to introducing legislation to install sprinklers in schools, and the Government must act.
“There is now an expectation that all new construction schools will adapt to sprinkler systems, and this is the case for the new Castleward school being built in Derby.”
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