Fire school opens after rebuild

Pupils and parents said the new school was bigger and better

A primary school which burnt down two years ago in Kent has reopened for the new school year.

Pupils from Lympne Church of England School, near Hythe, have been taught at another school since the blaze in 2006.

Teachers and 230 children had to make their way to safety when the fire broke out during a school assembly and about 70 firefighters tackled the blaze.

Joyce Rhodes, head teacher, said very little survived apart from a few cups in the staff room and a filing cabinet.

'More modern'

The old school hall collapsed as a result of the fire and several other buildings were also gutted.

Pupils were exploring their new buildings on Friday.

Ethan Wright said he thought the new school was "really cool" and a "much nicer set-up", while fellow pupil Anna Hamilton said it was "a bit more modern".

Mother Marie Watson said: "It was a very new school before anyway, but now it's even better with all mod cons.

"Classes are a little bit bigger - it's wonderful."

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Pupils took their first look around the new classrooms