Students begin their '˜second first day' at new Selsey teaching village

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The head chatting to pupils and their parent about the temporary new academy.ks16001163-9 SUS-161031-192317008 — ks16001163-9 Sels Academy New phot kate The head chatting to pupils and their parent about the temporary new academy.ks16001163-9 SUS-161031-192317008

In less than two months since the devastating fire broke out at the beloved school, students have now been welcomed back with opened arms.

Headteacher Tom Garfield expressed his ‘delight’ at being able to reunite the school once again.

He said: “The most important thing is the school community that we have worked so hard to retain.

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Visitors looking around the temporary new Selsey Academy.ks16001163-2 SUS-161031-192427008 — ks16001163-2 Sels Academy New phot kate Visitors looking around the temporary new Selsey Academy.ks16001163-2 SUS-161031-192427008

“This is the 56th working day since the fire it has been a very short turn around – this amount of work would normally take five months.

“Everyone has worked tirelessly to get to this point.”

Parents and students were invited down to see the new teaching facilities on Monday, October 31, before the pupils begin school today (Tuesday, November 1).

The classrooms include a new food technology room and a cafeteria for pupils to reunite with students they may not have seen since before the summer holidays.

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Staff preparing the kitchen.ks16001163-6 SUS-161031-192228008 — ks16001163-6 Sels Academy New phot kate Staff preparing the kitchen.ks16001163-6 SUS-161031-192228008

Mr Garfield added: “I am delighted with the response we have received today from parents, we want the best education for their children and to see today how pleased they are with the outcome shows how far we have come.

“We have worked hard these past few months to keep lessons the same and retain the sense or normality, but what will be different now is that we will get back our community.”

Assistant headteacher Gemma Hinton added that for the year seven students it will be like a ‘second first day’.

Parents were equally as impressed at the hard work gone into the construction of the new buildings.

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The new IT department.ks16001163-8 SUS-161031-192332008 — ks16001163-8 Sels Academy New phot kate The new IT department.ks16001163-8 SUS-161031-192332008

Kelly Johnson, parents of year seven student Riley Johnson, said: “After the fire we didn’t even know if there was going to be a school.

“All the children have coped fantastically well.

“It will be like starting again for Riley and the other year sevens, almost like changing schools again.

“The facilities are amazing from what we have seen, unbelievable how quickly it has fallen into place.”

Gemma Senior, who’s son is in year nine, agreed: “I am so proud of this school.

“It is heart warming to see people band together in times like this and work it out for the children.

“At the end of the day their education is the most important thing.”