As we approach the long summer holidays, past events should remind us of the risks posed to schools by fire.

On Thursday 30^th July 2009, fire broke out at Thomas Fairchild Community School, Napier Grove, Hoxton, London N1 7HX.  At least half of the ground floor and part of the first floor were severely damaged.  This school in the London Borough of Hackney, originally known as Napier Street School and built in 1885 and thus probably a late Robson building, has since been demolished and replaced.

 

Napier Street School before the fire in 2007 (c) James Hall

On Tuesday 6^th April 2010, fire broke out at Haberdasher's Aske's Hatcham Temple Grove Primary School, Hunsdon Road, New Cross, London SE14 5RD.  Formerly known as Monson Road School and then Monson Primary School, this was a splendid 1882 Robson building with interesting additions in 1885 and 1900 by Bailey.  All floors were considerably damaged, and the roof and second floor "badly damaged."  The fire left the school roofless, with burnt rafters open to the elements on the second floor.  The building was subsequently repaired.

 

Monson Road School before the fire in 2009 (c) Tim Walder

On Tuesday 29^th August 2010, fire broke out at Stillness Primary School, Brockley Rise, Forest Hill, London SE23 1NH.  Formerly Stillness Road School, this was a fine later Bailey school from 1905 with particularly resplendent gateways.  Fire spread quickly and consumed most of the north wing.  The building was subsequently repaired.

 

Stillness Road School on the morning after the fire in 2010 (c) Tim Walder

On Sunday 30^th January 2011, fire broke out at the disused Union Street School in Beresford Street, Woolwich in the London Borough of Greenwich.  This Robson school dating to 1884 had been disused for some time and the schoolkeeper's house had already suffered a fire prior to 2007. This building was subsequently demolished and no trace of it remains.

 

Union Street School before the fire in 2007 (c) James Hall

These events are not as isolated as might be hoped, indeed they form part of a pattern.  A spokesman for the London Fire Service has noted: "Every year, one in eight schools suffers a serious arson attack. The cost of school fires is around £65 million with London accounting for over a third of the cost."

The common thread is that all of these buildings were empty at the time.  At Napier Street School the fire occurred during the school holidays.  The fires at Monson Road and Stillness Road Schools occurred both during the holidays and during building works.  Union Street School was an abandoned building.

The loss of school buildings, particularly historic ones to fire is devastating. Victorian Schools in London calls on local authorities and others to take the following steps:

• Ensure all schools are occupied or guarded to some degree during the holidays
• Undertake physical security measures and provide full-time security, particularly where school buildings are empty
• Ensure building contractors have an adequate Hot Works Policy as part of their contract
• Undertake proper facilities management to avoid school buildings becoming empty

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