Irongate School back on course for year

Fay Wooster, principal of Irongate School in Flaxmere, Hastings, in front of buildings which have been demolished after an arson attack last November. Photo / Duncan Brown

Irongate School is back on its feet after a suspected arson attack struck last November.

Principal Fay Wooster is looking forward to the new school year and welcoming her students back next week.

Last year's fire caused extensive damage to three classrooms.

One was demolished immediately, while two were deemed unfixable in December.

"The last two classrooms received an intense amount of smoke damage and are being removed," she said.

The Ministry of Education owns the buildings and will not replace them until the roll increases.

Mrs Wooster said there was still enough room for all pupils. The average class would have 24 pupils.

She was determined to look forward not back and establish a "normal" routine as soon as the school re-opened.

"I want students to get back into the sustainable routines they were used to."

The empty space, where the classrooms once stood, will become a grassed area giving the children more room to play.

Mrs Wooster did not want to spend too much on the area, as it was the perfect place for a potential rebuild.

School begins on Monday, January 26, and Mrs Wooster couldn't be more excited.

"The pupils look forward to school and we look forward to them coming back."

Mrs Wooster recognised the support received and said it "reminds us how strong the community really is".