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Your comments on the 2005 Pingle School Fire:
andrew grainger
OK, December 2nd 2005..... it is now 26th november 2006! n i gota say the school has realli progressed. all the students have settled in and the school and its curriculum is back to normal, although the school is still a building site the sixth form and the religion bloack which was destroyed in the horrible blaze is now being rebuilt. the blaze was realli scary n it was kind ov confusing our break starts at 10:50am and finishes at 11:10am and is the time the fire bell went off, ( at 11:10am ) every1 thought it was the break bell like any other day so did i. i had a lesson which made me go outside then i saw people running i walked wiv the running crowde thinking that sumthin was wrong i looked to my left where the sixth form block was, i saw a little bit of black smoke. i looked in front of me where i was walkin and i saw everyone lining up as if the firebell had gone n thats when i found out it was a real fire, i got in alphabetical order in my form line and looked to my left i saw all the people rushing out n i saw the blaze some of the people were laughing thinking this was a funny matter thinking hey weve got time off but i knew it was realli serious people have asma and people were crying around me. i wanted to help then but i wasnt aloud to move out of my line just as i thought things couldnt get any worse, it started to rain!!! evry1 was saoked. so evry1 was sneezing because they had a cold n was coughing because of the smoke but evry1 was greatful of the firefighters and staff got 1300 kids out of the school in 6 mins !! without any1 gettin harmed. it was another hour untill the staff decided that we should go home, so we did, traffic was hectic down coronation street with ambulances, police cars and traffic just trying to get people away from the school because my mum was at work she couldnt pick me up one of my mates was kind enuf to take me to his house to get me away from danger. alot of people who couldnt get a lift home had to go to a day club untill they could get a lift. i opolige still to my mum as it was her birthday on december 2nd and she couldnt get away from work so all she could do was worry ( what a way to spend your birthday lol) any way just to finsh off although it is now november 2006 i remember that day as though it was yesterday n iwud realli like to thank the people who helped us that day and to say that the school should be fully back to normal next year! thnx alot !!!!!
ashley
i am sorry to hear about this fire it must be awful for the people who have lost their work
Paul
My first day at senior school was the day pingle opened many happy memories,hope all soon gets back to normal after the fire.
April
A really BIG thanx to the firefighters + staff who got us out safetly !~!~! THANX XX
April
we are caring on as normal now!~!~! the porter cabins are really nice but i can't wait till the school is finished because its still a mess where the fire was!~!~! i'm really glad everyones ok and no-one got hurt in the big blaze !~!~!
Casey Hale
i am very sad about wot happened i luv skool and who ever didthisi hate cus we missed so much valuable time of school
dan c
it was a big shame about yhe fire because it will cost alot of money to restore and it will be another 4 months till it will be complete agan
Marion Wood
I was rly sad to hear bout ur skool. i was going to go there but i moved to south wales instead. its such a shame that ppl can do this. I h8 mi skool but i wuld probably be rly sad if it was burnt down. maz xxx
Tahira Javied
I think what had happend in sinfin was really bad because year 9 and 10 have got exams so i feel really bad for them. I am in year 8 in derby moor comunity sports collage.
Danny n Cal
Soz 2 hear bout ya skwl la, ours is in workin order if dat make ya feel betta
Jemma
pingle is the best school in the world!!!! The teachers are sound!!! i dont want 2 leave......
Claire-Yr11
Elo its now March 1st! seems like quite a while since we had the terrible fire at ma skwl! i wud jus like 2 say dat i fink evry1 has got on really well and having the new cabin village is a really good idea because everyone is settled and also it will be nice when the new 6th form is re-built and other classrooms! howevr i wnt b ther 2 c tha new sixth frm cuz im goin on 2 college but i wil hopefully get updated by some mates! evry1 has worked 2getha as a team...i fink dis is wot pingle is made of :)
lauren p
as i saw this picture my smile turned up side down how horrible for some people this must have been terrifying i hope know one was hurt i just went on a web sit to see about fire bells and i saw this im sorry for looking but im sorry now i may not ever go to school again nor look at fire i am so terrified of fires im so scared about dying i have fires,trains,boats,airplains
Adie Dolan
The fire alarm went of thought we had 2 go 2 class but it got louder the teachers were souting fire alarm get out me and me an my friends thought it was a practice but when i got outside i cud smell it,it was horrid to see the skol burn down me an me friends cried my form tutor got me sister for me from another form,big hand 2 the firefighters an da teachers,so glad no1 got hurt the people that did it should be locked up.xxxxxxxxxxxxx
jonny
well its been a good few months now and we have now all finally got bak to normal its taken time for teachers and pupils to adapt to there new working enviroments. the old 6 form is now none existant and has been torn down in the worst places. but im glad that its finally goin to be rebuilt. so as the school moves on to the future we all can now just say thanx god we got out safe. but i have been told that the 6 former will be bak for september so the new year 12s will come into a better working enviroment.
RABECCA&COLLEEN
I thind this very upseting that this amazing school has been burnt!! i am a year 7 pupil at the pingle school and witness my school on fire was very dramatic and not noing were my family was i was very upsetting i now no how dangerrus fire is and i would like to say thanks to everyone for making me and every 1 safe
nicci garner
when the bell went off i thought altomaticly that it was the end of break bell. When i saw people going outside i thought they were goin to lesson. When some pupils opened the doors and i heard shouting it suddenly clicked that it was a fire bell. untill i got outside i was nt worried when i smelt it i panicked and cryed. thanxs to other pupils and staff + the firefighters every1 was out safely and nobody was harmed. thanxs
April (student at pingle y8)
it was sooo scary when we saw the fire. it took them half an hour to decide wether to send us home and when we got out of the school we couldn't find any of our friends. we were really worid that they were in the fire but they were just coughing im so glad no one was hurt
<3 loz <3
we thought that everyone was joking when we heard about the fire! until we saw the smoke from william allitt in newhall! loadsa people i know go ther and im so glad no one was hurt or anything...what a stupid thing to do! xxx
Patrick Buckley
It may be like january 6th now, but the fire had some lasting side affects oviously. You can see the damage when going to classes and the smell is rank in the corridors. It will be a day that wont be forgotten and i feel sorry for the teachers and students lost work...especially Mr.Nicklin who lost about 20 years worth of work in the fire. The school has done well to sustain its normal procedures.
charlotte jones
the place still smells of soot, and me and my friends are really shocked of what happened. me and my bst friend were heading to science, and the bell went we just though it was a practice, and my friend said i would laugh it was a real fire, and we all headed to the nearest exit, and when i got outside i said to my friend i smell smoke and i looked round the corner and 6 form was on fire. i started to cry and i have NEVER been more scared in my whole life.i am just happy no one got hurt!thanx to the firefighters!
charlotte j
the school is now much better it still smells, but the 6 form block has now been replaced with porter cabins.
laura w
it was a tragic event and hopefully that part of the school will be rebuilt it was a terible experiance and i just glad that things went so well
jasmine kirby
i am very upset of what happened on friday 2 december, the day we will never forget.it made me cry and others. we should prais the fire men with honour. and thank the teachers too. for getting us out so quick. we should be very greatful
stephen meadows
Im so upset.I cant believe someone has done that to my school.It smells so bad round school and its upsetting to see the school burnt and demolished.
6th former
today i was watching the demolition of the detroyed 6th form area's and when one of the builders came over.. i jokingly asked about the 6th form party photo's and he actually let me into the wreck... showed me round the soot covered corridors and the demolished study area.. i got the photo's and was amazed at the damage that fire can do. i knew it was bad but to be honest i didn't think it would have been as bad as it was.. and i am still shocked but glad that no-one got hurt... in the fire i lost some of my A level work and some other things.. BIG THANKS TO THE TEACHERS FOR GETTING US OUT BUT WHY COULDN'T WE GO IN THE SPORTS HALL AS WELL!!!
emma woodhouse
i think itz bad. im apupil at the pingle school. some of my gcse work iz destroyed. i hope my friends are ok
John Macintosh
This Fire Looked Awful,I could see lots of smoke from my home in Swadlincote. I Just hope that the building does not have to be demolished. My Nephew attends the school and on the day of the blaze, Luckily he was on holiday in Nice. He was Devastated when he heard as he loves it at Pingle.
Emma Moss
we are now back at school and school is wrecked. I didn't know how serious it was until the other day. Hardley anything was saved. All my child development coursework is wrecked. At least my exams are over and we can get everything back to normal. The teachers need a medal for getting everyone out safely!
kelly
The fire has destroyed my coursework therefore we have to start it again, just because of some stupid idiots that wanted to mess around. it has caused the school a lot of mess and money. i dont agree that we should be back into school yet though, because the school is quite cold, it stills smells of burning wood and fumes. i think the year 11 pupils should have gone in to do there exams then gone home afterwards. there is not enough room in the school for all of us. There is no where for the six formers to go. i think we should have gone back after christmas when the school was a little more organised. It was a experience for everybody. there were people running around and crying. the teachers did well to get us all out. I hope nothing happens like this again.
Stacey
yeah the teachers did do a good job, but from the parents who say that the critism in the papers are unfair they was not there n year 11 10 n sixthform were left outside gettin wet when there was room in the sports hall. It is right that the teachers were thinking of our exams but to leave year 11 at school while younger years have a rotor is out of line year 9 have sat before we do in feburary they should take it in turns with all school years until after christmas. They are not doing as much food which seems to run out or not enough choice.
emma woodhouse
i think its really bad. im a pupil at the pingle school . i was in there. im upset coz my gcse wok is destroyed.
Georgina
when the fire bell went off i thought it was a practice and i could smell smoke and then saw the fire.it was frightening.all the six form people have to do all their work again.
anthony finch
the school fire was a very nasty shock to everyone. thankyou to the teachers and the fire crews that we got out of school safely. sorry about the post 16 that lost all their work.
Andrea Allen (Stretton)
I was saddened to hear of this terrible incident. I know that staff and pupils will do all in their power to move forward and return to normality as soon as possible.
Charlie Neat
It was terrible. Everyone was terrified. I just want to go back to school and see my mates again. Christmas is usually a nice time of year at school. i feel sorry for Mrs Tabberer.She loves the school and was devistated. All the teachers were.
david collier
i am sad that my work has been burnt. And would like to thank you for puting the fire out at our school.
Francesca
It was a shame to see Pingle burning down. I hope that the sixth-formers can get there coursework back.
georgina dainty
The bell went like any other day I headed 2 me maths lesson when my mate grabbed my wrist and everyone was shouting fire.It was scary, me and my mates were all cryin the fire burned 4 a massive 8 hours but the fire fighters kept it under control so thanx and I am glad every peoples ok.yr7
Jess
It was horrible it just kept getting bigger and bigger then the school was coverd in black smoke & soot hope we get bak 2 normal soon
Megan
I think it is really horrible what has happened to pingle school. i am only in yr seven and it really scared me. i just thought it was the bell to next lesson when i realised that it was a fire bell. when i got outside i could smell the smoke at first i thought it wasnt real but then i new it was it started off really small then it got huge. Me and my mates were cryin we have never known to be a fire that big as we have never seen 1 that big. i would like 2 say thanku to the teachers for evacuating us really quick and calming us down.
anthony finch
it was scary but all the teachers were excellent. thanks to all them we are safe. good to back to school
tom bourne
all the teachers are doin a good job trying to get the school back to normal just feel sorry for them all
Jade Woodward + Elizabeth Orton
I think it is disgraceful someone could have been badly hurt. I think it was a dreadful thing to happen how could someone do this?
sophieand abbie
we are both so sad about pingle going up in flames. Because or brothers are in there.
rachel
it was a real shame. at first i thought my friends were all joking. but we could see the smoke from springfiel school.
Ross and Michael
We think that it is really sad what has happened at the Pingle school and we hope nothing like that will happen again
Terry... Parent..
The school will rise from the ashes.The pupils shine and they will overcome
rabecca stringer
i would like 2 say thanks to all the fire fighters for saving many lives and for saving the skool .i would like 2 thank my friend emily wattrus for being there and comefotting me . there was lots of smok and i coudent c but i waz ok ,i will be reterning 2 skool sone in wich i will c all my m8 again like megan and emily . i would not like 2 go though that again and i hope not 2 !!!
gem gemz
It is well dissapointing to see pingle go on fire. i am glad every1 is ok. i just hope who ever dun it gets punished. its sick 2 think that sum1 wud do this iv bin ere nearly 5 years and i neva thort anythin like this wud happen. luv gemma steele xxxxxxxx yr 11
Rachel and Hollie
we are in 6th form and are gutted to see what has happened to our study area, common room, and the classrooms, it's really bad. it's a shame that we have to suffer because of the actions of a few mindless idiots. we have all lost work but also our little community! it's wierd coming back, it's just not the same and hard to concentrate. we just want to get back into some sort of routine.
north
it was experance i will never for get
Francesca
Cant believe that we stood and watched our school burn and we could do nothing about it! being in yr 11 ive lost my sociology work from the start of yr 10 n its devaststing so i dread to think how the people are feeling that have lost more than me. all of the teachers hard worik many of them theres years worth my deepest sympathy to everybody!!!! just glad nobody was hurt!!!! xx
john duggins
all that work for nothing ay!
lauren hart
my life has been distroyed i feel gutted
kimmitt
the fire started and i was just started going to my lesson which was 2 doors away.there was about 9 fire engines that came so it was a big fire. it left me freezin cold out on dry play because it was rainin it was a horrible experience
Ricky Tagg (Head Boy)
The teachers need a round of applause. They are all trying their best to get the school back to normal as quick as possible. I am willing to do all I can to help them in their quest.
laura w
with the six formers work and the year 11's after putting hard work into their gcse's has gone and has really gutted many people teachers have lost some of their imporant work. loads of ppls memories from several years ago have be destroyed who evers done this its just sick especially when theres people in there its discusting
liam gutteridge
i cried when the school set on fire, it was so upsetting
Scott Hall
I am very disapointed about what happend on friday 2nd December. I really want to do well at my school work and if i cant got to school then I wont do well in my GCSE's. If it wasnt for my friend who helped me get out safe and un-injured. I really hate fire because i had an accident with it when i was just only a todler. I hope that no body was injured and hope my school is up and running in the near future. Scott Hall 11 LWI
luke bourne
i am upset about what has happened. who ever did it should be locked up for life.
emma s
it was so freaky!!! i was in the hall with my mates when the alarm went off.We were all going on to our lessons when we realised it was a fire bell.We walked outside thinking it was a fake one when we smelt the smoke and saw some smoke coming out.We went down to dry play and it was pretty small then after an hour or so it was massive.Tons of my friends freaked out 'cos they couldn't find their siblings.We all had to call a relavtive and I had to let my best mate and her brother to come home with me.I only live in potters croft so I was the messenger for all my friends.Wasted all my credit but who cares when everyone came out alright.Lucky the alarm went off when it did.I had P.e. and it was swimming! ;)
Claire
We went bck 2 school today, and the day wasnt as bad as i thought it would be! but still i think it was unfair to just send yr11 back, because they should have just brought the whole school back next week, so we could all face the damage together! i am just really happy that no1 got hurt and the school are doing things about it as soon as they can!!! carnt wait to see tha skwl back to normal agen! we dnt realise hw much damage can be done, until it actually is!!!!!!
parent
I also have 2 children at Pingle School and have nothing but praise for the way that the teachers acted on the day and hope that they do not take any notice of the critiscm of the few. I was disappointed to read some quite harsh comments in the paper by one pupil in year 11, my son had his mocks starting today and said that alot of the teachers have lost items and work aswell. I think that they have done the right thing in getting the kids back and wish them all the best in trying to restore normality in very difficult cicumstances.
Rikki Birch
I am very shocked about this how it started very small and gt bigger this is a nbad situation for the fire fighters and im glad they are all ok whoever did this must be sick they cud of killed zome of the pupils and the school itself i am just glad everyone is ok and i hope the school is better for when the pupils go back because they could get injured and it will attract attention to all pupils and that is when they get hurt and when the pupils do go back they will be talking about it all the time thank you for the firefighters for putting it out for us i haVE GT ASTHMA AND GOIN THROUGH THE FIRE almoist killed me we should just thank the firefighters for helping noone get hurt or even they helped them from getting killed the pictures above will show you how it started and ended im just glad everybody is ok but whoever did it must be sick they could have killed somone or maybe even all the pupils in the school thanks firefighters and everyone who is ok.
keeleigh Miller
i think the school fire was very scary and everyone was shook up and very shocked. I think that we shouldnt go back to school until after Christmas because it may not be safe and it gives time to get back into the normal self and we should all go back together and not go back year by year
Dannii Richards
I think it is horrible what these people did to Pingle I hope everything turns back to normal soon
Luke wallis
I can not believe what happened to the school. I think who ever did it should be given a asbo
Matthew T. Chawner
Yes the school has sustained serious structural damage however I would like to congratulate the teaching staff at the Pingle School for their handling of the situation thanks to them nobody was seriously injured. The school does need some serious work its upside down and thats not just because the roofs all over the floor, I just want everythin to be sorted soon so I can get back to my studies cough.
Emily Wattrus
I was very frightened when the teachers said fire . i ran out of the school and saw it .the orange,yellow and blue flames coming from the 6 form block.
paula
i cant believe how long it took to put out. it was horrible to look at and i could smell the smoke really bad. i am glad nobody got hurt. i hope things get back to normal and i can see all my friends
Sheena Laud
It was very tragic. I was there so close to the fire when the fire alarm went off. When i realised this was a real fire i PANICED and didn't know what to do. So i stayed on dry play then went home. I feel sorry for the sixth form as their exams are this week and they have nothink to revise from.
becky heath
i am verry disapointed in what has happend to my school !!!we were made to come back into school only a few days later when it still had been totaly cleard up.the teachers today still didnt know where they were going..we were made to do mocks when we hadnt had time to revise as most of my revision had been left at skool.i hope that in the future if this occures again the teachers will b able 2 cope betta. becky x x x
Natalie
Im in year 10 at Pingle and it was such a shock to watch this happen. I feel so sorry for all the year 11 pupils that have lost work and all the a-level students. It was bad enough losing some of mine.
charlotte and charlotte
we are very shocked that this has happened to our skool its amazin how a lil fire can get so big!!! they cudnt handle it for ages! were just glad that every1 is ok and its finally under control and cant wait to get back to skool!!
Tez
being a sixth former its hard to realise that our area has been completely destroyed, years of work have just gone in a blink of an eye. it was a little weird in that situation friday morning, never have been in a real fire situation and can honestly say dont want to be in the same one again. i feel for those who left expensive things in the common room, and also to people who have spent time on there work to which has been destroyed most probably as well. thanks to the firefighters who tried their hardest to put the fire out asap and to taking some peoples posessions out before they got destroyed as well. i know someone who left their bag in the common room full of all the folders from since they started sixth form, and i heard from that person today that they got it back. it was very lucky yet so sad to think that something like this has happened in the first place!
Parent
Both of my children attend the Pingle school and they are both devasted at the loss of part of their school,their work and personal possessions. I hope the parents of the irresponsible children allegedly involved think about the actions of their children and how this affects the lives of children who care about their education and future. I hope the school can now motivate the decent children to move forward with a positive attitude and help them forget this traumatic experience. Perhaps the sociology department could engage the whole school in what motivates vandalism and irresponsible criminal behaviour?
Emma M
It's been 3 days and i still can't get it out of my head. I just keep thinking of all the 6th formers work being destroyed and wrecked because of students that just wanted a bit of fun. I am in year 11 and we were due for our mock exams on 5th December but now this has happened i don't think they will be taking place this week. Thank God everyone is ok and well.
Nat
Shame that sixth form has school on Tuesday. No breaks allowed for the weary I suppose. Glad no one was hurt, though. Work can be redone, people can't.
Sarah
I cant believe how small it started and then how big it got and out of control. It was horrible to watch but im just glad that everyone was ok. I feel sorry for the six formers loosing all of their work. I hope everything gets back to normal soon.
stace
It is difficult for some students like year 11's who had folders to revise from for te exams this week. Now what are people gonna do bout ther work cuz its all important.
vanessa
it was horrid seein ma own skool go up in flames. I was crying so much and i feel for all the people who were cryin aswell. the people hu did this r sick minded and they put peoples lifes in danger and their own. we all was in sooo much shock did not expect it. I hope the people hu did this get caught. I really feel for the girl hu had that fit. I hope she is alrite now. i just want to go back to skool and everything is normal again.
v
i was there wen it happened and it was horrid i hope i can go back school as soon as possible. i really miss my mates and want to get everything back to normal.
Bethany Allsopp
It was a shock for me because my 2 cousins were in there.I was in big shock i was worried i asked my cousin what had happend and when she told me i was shocked.
Kyle and Lewis
We cant believe pingle set on fire.Especialy as I Kyle will be going there next year.We found it as a terrible experiance and if it managed to reach the science block the school will be in an extreme mess.The thing I cant believe the most is the fact that the school was on fire for 8 hours.
Mitchell iles
We were devastated when we heard about the tragic blaze that sent Pingle six form up in smoke.
Demi James
It was a shock to hear that the school had burnt and loads of people were crying as their brothers and sisters were at the school. Even i could smell this smoke.
danielle musk
I have never seen a school burning before but i could see the smoke and hear the fire engines coming to the blaze.
Alicks Gaunt
its very sad to see this happen where are the pupils going to school now?
Riki Hylton
I can tell it must of been a terrible experience even from my brothers saying .
Adam
the fire was terrible.I am so sorry to hear that the children cant go to school because its burnt.
andrew ross
i think that it is stupid trying to send us back school before all the damage has been assessed properley it could still be very dangerous!!!
laura w
it was a teriffiying experience seeing my own school burning down it was a shock loads of people were crying including me it was never expected
Claire Claridge
I am really dissapointed about what has happened to ur school, because i think it has effected our exams for next week! Hope everything is alright soon!
Rebekah Theaker
Since I was there on the day it happened it seemed very scary and looks even scarier now i can see different pictures and it was a scary time for everyone including the teachers. We never want to be in that position again and we all hope we never will be again Rebekah Theaker
Gemma
Well!! watching your school burn down is'nt something that you see everyday!! I'm glad everybody was ok and the person who did this gets caught!!!
stacey
i can't believe it because i'm in year 11 at pingle and we have our mock GCSE's week commencing monday the 5th so looks like we won't be doing them just yet!!!
Charlotte Kesterton
It's pretty scary knowing that the most important part of the school has gone up in flames. It's a shame about all of sixform's hard work all for the stupid actions of the few. Everyone is angry with them and I hope they get a decent punishment.
Thomas Bourne
I am pretty shocked that this happend, and who has ever done it is sick. They must of reorlised what danger they were putting the school and people in.I am just glad no one was injered but still years of work has been destroyed and people are deverstated, to thinck that they have tryed so hard to do there cousework and now it has just gone.Also i feel for some teachers because the whole carea has gone becaus some thougtless people wanted a bit of fun.
