The extent of damage caused by the serious fire at Uppingham Community College has been revealed by principal Ben Solly today (Fri).

Seven classrooms across three floors, the library and careers office have all suffered a combination of fire, smoke and water damage - and in some rooms all three.

The careers office floor collapsed at the weekend into the girl's changing room below.

Two classrooms have also sustained air contamination.

The damage is such that Mr Solly anticipates all these affected areas will be unusable for some time, and could be out of action for this entire academic year.

The main PE changing rooms are also 'significantly damaged', along with the fitness room and corridor leading to the sports hall.

The sports hall is still drying out and the extent of damage to the floor is yet to be assessed.

A further two classrooms have no power or network coverage due to damage to the cables servicing them.

The school is now embarking on a three-phase recovery plan.

The first phase is focussed on securing the safety of the site with regular air quality and structural assessments and scaffolding being put up so the building can be wrapped up and capped in an airtight seal.

Wrapping the building must be completed before the school can be confident no debris will be swept off the roof and the air quality is safe.

"The very earliest we can wrap the building up is 14 September and this is very dependent on the weather," explains Mr Solly.

"Once this is complete we can then test the air quality and start the extensive cleaning process.

"We are not allowed staff back on site until these measures are completed."

Phase two is the installation of eight temporary classrooms, two changing rooms for student and staff area so the school can reopen.

"We have explored partially opening up the safe areas of the school during the installation process but, due to the extensive work required to set these temporary building up, we would not be able to.

"We are hoping to start our phased return on Monday, 21 September for students, with all students then starting back on the full timetable on Monday, 28 September.

"These dates are provisional and subject to us successfully completing the work in Phase one to secure a safe school site."

The final phase is the rebuilding project.

Mr Solly says: "This is the long term aspect of the plan and will involve the redevelopment of the areas lost to the fire.

"Currently, we are not able to focus on this aspect until phases one and two are completed."

Mr Solly also expresses the school's gratitude for the 'kindness and generosity' shown by those who have organised and contributed to fundraising efforts.

"Throughout the coronavirus pandemic and now through the fire at UCC we have lived through an horrific period of disruption and loss.

"However, we will emerge from these challenges as a stronger school community, more resilient, more united and more determined than we have ever been to ensure our school continues to positively shape and influence the lives of the young people we are so privileged to work with.

"Right now, things are hard, but together we will get through it," he concludes.