A FIRE at Bishop John Robinson Church of England Primary School in Thamesmead is being treated as arson say police.

More than 40 fire fighters and eight fire engines took 15 hours to put out the blaze at the school in Hoveton Road.

The first fire crews were at the scene at about 7.10pm yesterday (October 31).

A spokesman for the fire service said the fire damaged 25 per cent of the single storey school and 50 per cent of the roof.

Anxious parents gathered this morning outside the school, which is now the scene of a police investigation.

Yvonne Duff, 26, whose son Lyndon, 9, is a pupil there, described seeing the fire and smoke at the school, where she was also a pupil.

Ms Duff said: “The front office was on fire and there was smoke everywhere.

“I saw all our memories go up in smoke.”

She added: “My son goes to there. We don’t know where he will go to school.

“They can rebuild it, but we are not going to be able to go there for now.”

Ms Duff’s mother, Madge White, said she heard about the fire when her daughter ran into her home in Gallsworthy Close, Thamesmead and told her the school was on fire.

Ms White said: “It is awful. I am devastated. I was here when the school was built and I was at the ceremony for the laying of the foundations.

“Both my daughters went to the school and my eldest daughter Yvonne was one of the first pupils at the school 22 years ago. Now my grandson goes there.”

She added: “The school has strong links with the community and with the church.”

A spokesman for the school was unable to comment on the fire because it is the subject of a police investigation.

The school was already scheduled to be closed on Monday (November 3) for staff training, but will now be closed on Tuesday as well because of the fire.

It is not known if the school will be open on again on Wednesday and parents are advised to check the school website - bjrs.greenwich.lgfl.net - for updated information about when the school will reopen.

  • Two youths aged 15 and 14 have been arrested in connection with the fire and are currently being held at a south London police station. Anyone with information should call Greenwich CID on 020 8284 9445 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
  • Did you see the fire? Or do your children go to the school? Post a comment below.