Fire school moves to stately home

Schoolchildren will be following in the steps of Queen Victoria

Children whose village school was badly damaged by a fire are to start lessons at a 250-year-old stately home.

The 62 pupils, aged four to 11, have been at home since the fire at Marsh Baldon Primary, near Nuneham Courtney in Oxfordshire, on 24 February.

Temporary lessons will now be held for up to two weeks at Nuneham Park, a mansion once graced by Queen Victoria.

Arson has been ruled out as the cause of the fire at the historic school, which itself dates back to the 1880s.

At least a third of the building was gutted in the incident.

Teachers plan to start lessons for Years Five and Six on Thursday, in the global retreat centre at Nuneham Park.

It is hoped the rest of the school will start lessons on Monday.

Speaking shortly after the fire, Alison Barn, the chair of the governors, said: "It's as if part of the heart of the village has been ripped out."