Liberton Primary School kids to be split across four schools following devastating fire

The damage to the school is significant, including the roof.

Pupils who watched their school go up in flames on Wednesday will be split across four different schools until at least the Easter Holidays, Edinburgh City Council have confirmed.

Prestonfield Primary School, Castleview Primary School, Castlebrae High School and Inch House Community Education Centre will each take different numbers of children to accommodate those without a place to learn.

Staff will be setting up classrooms in their new schools on Monday 17 February and Tuesday 18 February before children return to class on Wednesday 19 February.

Liberton Primary School will be shut until the Easter Holidays

Liberton Primary School suffered major damage to classrooms and its roof after a fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon, sparking a response of around 50 firefighters.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and structural engineers are on site assessing the scale of the damage.

Pupils and parents have also been told that personal belongings inside the school will not be retrieved with no access to the building currently allowed.

However arrangements are being made to allow items including school bags to be picked up with more details released on Monday.

A council spokesman added transport will be provided by the council for all pupils to and from the schools they will be based with pick up and drop off points close to Liberton Primary School.

Which schools are taking which pupils?

Prestonfield Primary School will be taking all nursery children, P1A, P1B and P1/2

Castleview Primary School will be taking P2A and P2B

The fire took hold of the school on Wednesday afternoon

Castlebrae High School will be taking P3 – P6

Inch House Community Education Centre will be taking P7

'Deeply upsetting'

Paul Ewing, headteacher at Liberton Primary School, said the fire was a "deeply upsetting" incident.

He said: “This has obviously been a deeply upsetting time for the school and our pupils. I want to thank our staff, families and friends who have rallied round since the fire and all the messages of support from across the whole school community.

“We will be working closely with the four venues in finalising arrangements for our pupils and staff. I know everyone will be working together to ensure that our Liberton school family is supported.”

Education convener councillor Ian Perry said: “The safety of our pupils and staff is paramount. They’ll be naturally disappointed they can’t return to the school immediately but I’m sure they will fully understand that the whole school site has been impacted by the fire as I saw first-hand yesterday.

“Praise must go to everyone who has worked tirelessly over the past two days in reacting so swiftly and positively to this major incident. It’s been a huge challenge to put in place alternative plans to educate 500 pupils at such short notice.”

Education vice-convener councillor Alison Dickie said: “We realise the 48 hours since the fire has been a very unsettling time for families and staff. I’m glad we have put in place alternative arrangements so quickly and we will ensure parents are updated with further developments.

“Having visited Liberton Primary School a few months ago I know their dedicated teaching staff will work very closely with their colleagues at the schools to minimise any impact the new arrangements will have on pupils and families.”