Students are unlikely to return to fire-damage Uppingham Community College for at least another three weeks.

Headteacher Ben Solly met with the building surveyor and loss adjustor on Friday when he learned that due to the structural damage and fire damage contamination, the safety issues caused by the fire are 'more significant than we initially feared'.

In a bid to get pupils back to the classroom as quickly as possible the school has explored a number of avenues including using spaces furthest away from areas affected by the fire and creating outside classrooms using heavy-duty tents and marquees as a short-term solution.

But both options have been ruled out by health and safety advisors.

Instead, UCC will be creating eight temporary classrooms and two temporary changing facilities, along with offices and work spaces for staff, in the week beginning 14 September.

"We have to complete a number of key steps before we are able to bring anyone back onto the school site," says Mr Solly in an update to parents.

"Firstly, the building needs to be 'wrapped up' in a bespoke 'Tin Hat' which has to be specifically designed - the design, the scaffolding and the installation is being expedited but it will take until the end of next week [w/c 31 Aug] to complete at the very earliest.

"There needs to be air quality testing and an extensive clean up operation following this process, meaning that the very earliest we can look to bring staff back into school is the week beginning 14 September."

Mr Solly goes on to explain that installing the temporary buildings is 'a huge' task requiring heavy duty machinery and cranes, therefore making the site unsafe for students to return until completed.

"Once these buildings are in place and functional, we are planning to bring staff back into school to get these new teaching spaces ready and receive training on a revised set of plans to re-start the school with Covid-safe adaptations.

"Disappointingly, we think this means we will be teaching students remotely until at least Monday 21 September, which is when we currently believe we can begin the phased re-start for students.

"Given that our site will have changed dramatically since students were last in school, this phased re-start is even more important.

"If everything slots into place as we hope it will, I anticipate all students returning on Monday 28 September.

"I understand how upsetting and frustrating this must be for students and parents; the staff at UCC feel exactly the same.

"I will be working with the school leadership team and the health and safety consultants to get us back on our feet as quickly as we can.

"The dates I have identified...are of course all provisional and subject to change, but we are doing everything we can to get UCC up and running safely."

Mr Solly also thanked parents for messages of support and the kindness shown by the school community and those who have set up and contributed to online fundraising appeals.

He adds: "We will be able to replace the equipment and resources lost to the fire through our insurance claim, however the funds raised through these community campaigns will go to our student council who will decide on how we should invest the money."