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Two teenagers have been arrested following a fire which destroyed three classrooms and caused thousands of pounds of damage at a school in Cornwall.
Police were called to Treviglas Community College in the early hours of yesterday morning after two people were seen running away from the building.
Officers arriving at the school, in St Columb Minor near Newquay, arrested two 17-year-olds at the scene and discovered a fire in the Effective Learning Centre – a facility for pupils with difficulties accessing the curriculum.
The blaze ripped through three classrooms, causing "extensive damage" and destroying computers and other equipment. Treviglas was closed to pupils yesterday as a joint police and fire investigation continued. An A Level examination was allowed to go ahead because it was being held in a separate part of the school.
Sam Colborne, head of English at the college, said it was "an upsetting setback" for staff and pupils.
He said: "One end of the school has been sectioned off as a crime scene while the investigation into the incident continues.
"The blaze centred on the Effective Learning Centre, which is bordered by the maths and science blocks. The three classrooms which suffered substantial damage contained computers, which we assume have been rendered unusable."
Mr Colborne said that animals in the science block had been rescued and that fire crews were also quick to remove filing cabinets containing pupil's coursework.
A python belonging to the school is being temporarily cared for by Newquay Zoo.
Mr Colborne added: "It is an upsetting setback for all involved, but we're thankful nobody was injured. We will do everything in our power to minimise the effect on our pupils."
A police spokesman said the two youths were initially arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in police custody.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said more than 40 crew were at the scene, with appliances from Newquay, St Columb, Perranporth, St Dennis and Truro.
A spokesman added that arson was suspected and that the Fire Investigation Team was at the scene helping police. A sniffer dog which detects accelerants – like petrol – was also being used.
The school is expected to partially reopen today and fully from Monday after a structural survey has been carried out.
More than 1,000 pupils aged between 11 and 18 attend Treviglas.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them on 08452 777444 quoting log 22 27/1/11.
www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
Two teenagers have been arrested following a fire which destroyed three classrooms and caused thousands of pounds of damage at a school in Cornwall.
Police were called to Treviglas Community College in the early hours of yesterday morning after two people were seen running away from the building.
Officers arriving at the school, in St Columb Minor near Newquay, arrested two 17-year-olds at the scene and discovered a fire in the Effective Learning Centre – a facility for pupils with difficulties accessing the curriculum.
The blaze ripped through three classrooms, causing "extensive damage" and destroying computers and other equipment. Treviglas was closed to pupils yesterday as a joint police and fire investigation continued. An A Level examination was allowed to go ahead because it was being held in a separate part of the school.
Sam Colborne, head of English at the college, said it was "an upsetting setback" for staff and pupils.
He said: "One end of the school has been sectioned off as a crime scene while the investigation into the incident continues.
"The blaze centred on the Effective Learning Centre, which is bordered by the maths and science blocks. The three classrooms which suffered substantial damage contained computers, which we assume have been rendered unusable."
Mr Colborne said that animals in the science block had been rescued and that fire crews were also quick to remove filing cabinets containing pupil's coursework.
A python belonging to the school is being temporarily cared for by Newquay Zoo.
Mr Colborne added: "It is an upsetting setback for all involved, but we're thankful nobody was injured. We will do everything in our power to minimise the effect on our pupils."
A police spokesman said the two youths were initially arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in police custody.
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said more than 40 crew were at the scene, with appliances from Newquay, St Columb, Perranporth, St Dennis and Truro.
A spokesman added that arson was suspected and that the Fire Investigation Team was at the scene helping police. A sniffer dog which detects accelerants – like petrol – was also being used.
The school is expected to partially reopen today and fully from Monday after a structural survey has been carried out.
More than 1,000 pupils aged between 11 and 18 attend Treviglas.
Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with any information to contact them on 08452 777444 quoting log 22 27/1/11.
www.thisiscornwall.co.uk
