A PRIMARY school that was partly destroyed by a fire last year could soon be rebuilt.

Flames ripped through Yatton Infant School on May 29, 2023, destroying six classrooms. Now, plans have been submitted to rebuild the school.

A planning application submitted to North Somerset Council seeks permission to build six new classrooms, along with new group rooms, library, food technology room, toilets, an extended hall, and some other facilities.

Three classrooms would be for children in year one, and three for children in year two, replacing the destroyed classrooms. One classroom will be fitted out as a “nurture space”.

A statement describing the plans submitted with the planning application said: “A courtyard provides a central focus linking infant and junior school buildings, to create a ‘one school’ feeling, aiding transition from infants to juniors. All classrooms have direct access to an external teaching space.”

Inside a fire-ravaged classroom.Inside a fire-ravaged classroom.

The size of the school will stay the same as before. Temporary classrooms have been used since the fire.

An all-weather pitch installed alongside the temporary classrooms will be retained as the school community has found it “valuable”.

Six fire engines and 36 firefighters tackled the blaze in 2023.

The fire broke out at half term when there was nobody inside the building.

There were no injuries reported and the fire’s cause was found to be accidental.

Eyewitness Emz Tracey, whose husband rang 999 after seeing smoke rise from the building, said at the time: “You could see the flames coming out of the roof.

“The smoke was so thick at one point, we couldn't see the (neighbouring) Co-op or the car park.

“It's truly devastating for our community, the teachers and children.

“It's been a hard few years already with Covid, so to now have a school on fire is hard to comprehend.

“As a community I'm sure we will rally together to support everyone.”

You can view and comment on the plans here: https://planning.n-somerset.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SIODT2LPJV800