UPDATED: The Island Learning Centre – comprised of Thompson House and Clatterford Tuition Centre – is to move to the former Hunnyhill Primary School site in Newport this September following last Friday’s devastating fire.
The Isle of Wight Council have confirmed that students and staff will move to the currently unused former Hunnyhill Primary School premises on Albany Road as an initial, short-term solution to finding a new home for the Island Learning Centre.
As previously reported, the ILC’s current home, the former Broadlea Primary School in Lake, was destroyed during the early hours of Friday following an arson attack.
Throughout the summer holiday period contractors will be on site at Albany Road making the school ready for the new term in September, allowing students to return to lessons and staff to return to work as normal – albeit in a new building.
Local residents have been told that works will include the boundary of the site and should any residents be affected, they will be contacted in advance.
UPDATE THURSDAY @ 10:16 – Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, has this morning said:
“There is a very short window over the summer holidays to ensure that a facility is brought up to specification required to ensure that pupils and staff can move into the building in the new term. We are confident that the site at Hunnyhill will, however, be ready and will provide a very welcome new home for the Island Learning Centre.”
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Costs for the refurbishment of Hunnyhill, to ensure that it meets the needs of the Island Learning Centre, are being investigated. The cost will be met from insurance on the now-former Island Learning Centre site at Lake.
Tom Pegler, Headteacher of the Island Learning Centre, said:
“After the devastating events of last week, I feel very grateful and pleased that we have managed, with the Isle of Wight Council, to find a workable solution to our relocation so quickly.
“Obviously, there will be some challenges, both in terms of getting the building ready in time for the new term, and in settling our staff and pupils into the new site from September. I am confident that we will be able to achieve our ambitions and that our new home will cater fully for our needs.
“This has been a disastrous event for our children, who are some of the most vulnerable children on the island. I am so impressed and grateful for how the community is rallying round to ensure these children have a school to go to in September. People are being so supportive and I want to thank them.”
Demolition of the gutted Lake site will take place imminently. Heras fencing has surrounded the site since the fire was extinguished, with 24 hour security in place. Access to the site, which is considered dangerous, is strictly prohibited.
