Derby primary school destroyed in arson attack reopens in £7 million rebuild
Watch timelapse video of the school rebuilding
A school in Derby that was destroyed in an arson attack has finally reopened nearly two years later, after a £7 million rebuild.
It comes more than a year after Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School in Mickleover was gutted in a fire in October 2020.
Today, staff and pupils started lessons in their new purpose-built replacement school - and it can now teach almost 300 students there.
The fire at Mickleover’s Ravensdale Infant and Nursery School caused “extensive damage” and saw 12 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms from across Derbyshire sent to the scene.
It was the third school fire that Derbyshire Fire and Rescue were called to amid a spate of arson attacks, with five more affected by fire since April 2019.
An 18-year-old boy has been charged with multiple counts of arson and is currently awaiting trial.
CCTV footage at the time showed a person walking towards Ravensdale Infant School and then appearing to run away on the morning of the fire.
It has prompted Derbyshire's Chief Fire Officer Gavin Tomlinson to call on the government to take action and ensure that all new-build schools have sprinklers fitted.
The new school has fitted sprinklers to help protect the building from fire. It's after work between Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, Derby City and Derbyshire County Council that saw both councils signing a Statement of Intent, committing to "fit sprinklers and the right fire safety measures in all new-build schools, and primary and secondary schools undergoing significant renovation, refurbishment or extension in November 2020".
Chief Fire Officer Tomlinson said:
“I am pleased that following the commitment set out in the Statement of Intent signed by the City and County Council in November 2020, that Derby City Council have honoured their commitment and ensured the fire safety of Ravensdale School.
"Their action to ensure sprinklers were part of the design has protected the education of thousands of pupils who will attend the school for years to come and protected the communities at the heart of any school from the devastating impact of fire.
“Of course, there is also huge financial benefits from ensuring sprinklers are fitted in schools preventing costly design and rebuild projects.
“I’d like to wish all the staff and pupils at Ravensdale School well as they move into their new school, closing the book on a chapter of the school’s history that many will remember for years to come.”
The school will be holding an official opening event on the 17th June.