School fires are common but the requirement for new schools to have sprinklers has been dropped. Kevin Courtney says this is short-sighted and dangerous

Despite strong opposition from the NUT and fire rescue sector, the government has dropped the requirement for new schools to be fitted with sprinklers. This short-sighted decision will put the lives of pupils, school staff and the emergency services at risk.

On August 21, just days before the start of the academic year, Selsey Academy in Sussex caught ablaze. Around 100 firefighters tackled the fire, which spread so quickly that large parts of the school were completely destroyed. The school had not been fitted with a sprinkler system.

This is just one example of the devastating and long-lasting impact school fires can have on pupils, school staff and the wider community. When a school is destroyed by a fire, there is significant disruption to pupils’ education, compounded by the loss of schoolwork, resources and equipment.

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