All smiles as children return to Halifax's Ash Green Primary School after huge fire

Halifax youngsters are “buzzing” to be back in school just a few weeks after a blaze devastated their building.
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A mammoth recovery effort has meant pupils from Ash Green Primary School’s upper site could return from their half-term break to sit alongside each other once again from today.

The huge fire on February 1 caused tremendous damage, destroying four classrooms belonging to Years 3 to 6.

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Headteacher Mungo Sheppard said: “It’s fantastic to have the kids back. They are buzzing and so are their parents.

Pupils cheering to be back at the upper site of Ash Green Primary School in HalifaxPupils cheering to be back at the upper site of Ash Green Primary School in Halifax
Pupils cheering to be back at the upper site of Ash Green Primary School in Halifax

“They can’t believe how quickly it’s happened.”

Children were welcomed back into the site on Clough Lane today. Initially they were being taught in the main building, including the school hall, but there were plans to move some into temporary classrooms which have been installed on what used to be the car park.

Mr Sheppard has said previously that other Calderdale schools offered to house Ash Green pupils but there was a strong feeling that youngsters should be kept in Mixenden and back on site as soon as possible.

To do that, the past few weeks have involved a massive clean-up operation. Mr Sheppard said the school has had incredible support from Calderdale Council as well as the project manager and contractors working on the school’s rebuild.

Carly-Rae Hope, seven, left, and Scarlett Gaughan, eight are pleased to be back learning in a classroom again after the blaze.Carly-Rae Hope, seven, left, and Scarlett Gaughan, eight are pleased to be back learning in a classroom again after the blaze.
Carly-Rae Hope, seven, left, and Scarlett Gaughan, eight are pleased to be back learning in a classroom again after the blaze.
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Ash Green has seen a huge outpouring of support from across Halifax, the rest of Calderdale and beyond since the blaze.

As well as remote learning, children have been invited to activities elsewhere, such as art workshops at Dean Clough, training with Halifax Panthers and mental health support from Invictus Wellbeing.

Holy Nativity Church opened its doors in the wake of the fire to offer support and a place to gather.

There has also been huge amounts of fundraising and collections taking place, organised by everyone from businesses and schools to individual pupils.

Children from St Andrew's C of E Infants School in Brighouse wearing 'green for Ash Green' to fundraise for Ash Green Primary School.Children from St Andrew's C of E Infants School in Brighouse wearing 'green for Ash Green' to fundraise for Ash Green Primary School.
Children from St Andrew's C of E Infants School in Brighouse wearing 'green for Ash Green' to fundraise for Ash Green Primary School.
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Many schools have held non-uniform days or 'wear green for Ash Green' days to raise funds.

To donate to the fundraiser organised by Community Foundation for Calderdale visit https://localgiving.org/appeal/AshGreenSchAppeal/