The last thing I expected to be doing first thing this morning was call the fire brigade! However, when I arrived at school the first thing I noticed was a strange smell in the corridor. The cleaners were just leaving and they mentioned this also. I looked around the school and then met the school cook who said there was a very strong smell in the kitchen and it was giving them a sore head.
I immediately went to check the boiler room and as soon as I opened the door I was met by thick billowing black smoke. Fearing the worst I immediately went and phoned the fire brigade. The staff were evacuated out of the building to the fire assembly point and the decision was taken to close the school. Even if there was no fire the smell of the fumes was very strong through the building and we did not know whether it would be safe togo back into the building after we had discovered what was wrong.
The staff went in groups to each of the entry gates and turned back children who were with their parents and children who arrived on their own were sent to the Ritchie Hall where parents were contacted to come and collect them.
The fire brigade arrived and two men in breathing equipment entered the boiler room to check it out. After some investigation it was discovered that one of the boilers was not functioning properly and the smoke that normally would go up the chimney had escaped into the boiler room.
We got all the children home safely and the staff remained in school and got a lot of work done on their unexpected day without any pupils.
School will be open as normal on Wednesday!