FOR Rudheath Academy, so much has changed in the two years since the darkest moment in its history, when the school building was deliberately set alight, causing massive destruction.

The blaze, at the former University Cheshire Academy (UCAN) in February 2018, was started in two separate roofs of the building, resulting in around £3m worth of damage.

Northwich Guardian:

The fire caused £3m of damage and destroyed a third of the school.

For the returning students, coming back to school for the new term on September 3, wasn't just a case of getting used to covid-secure precautions, but also the new state of the art facilities, with much of the building work now complete.

Jack Jevons, Business Manager at the Academy, said there had been several operational changes introduced, many of them, such a designated hub for year 7 students being positive.

He said: "In order to aid the transition from primary to secondary we've introduced what we think will be a long-term hub for year 7.

"In effect, it's like a primary school within a secondary school setting.

"The children stay in that hub and don't move around the school.

"The teacher's go to them and they get a lot of themed and project-based learning.

"The hub is based in a refurbished part of the school, in fact it used to be the old Maths block.

"It's not something that we introduced as a response to covid, it was happening anyway, but it's actually helped with providing similar experiences for the other years, who are also in their own bubbles.

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Rudheath Academy has undergone a massive transformation since a devastating fire back in February 2018.

Jack went on to say how phase three of the re-building work, which will see the spine of the school building transformed as part of the investment strategy of North West Academy Trust - who took the school under it's ownership in November 2018 - will begin in the next couple of weeks.

Jack went on: "That phase will see the existing rooms transformed into modern, up to date science labs and performance arts rooms.

"Obviously the works are incredibly important and positive but it means we have to be very strategic as to where everyone can be located.

"In the short term we've adapted really well to the fact part of the school's spine is essentially cut in half.

"We've got pop-up kitchens, which allows the children to remain in their bubbles but still have access to essentials.

"The only time the children leave their bubbles is for practical lessons such as PE and sport, which is obviously so important at the moment.

"One of the things we've been really proud to see the students having resilience and going out on to the sports field.

"When they're cooped up inside the classroom all day, and having to cope with everything else that is going on around covid, getting out onto the sports field for some exercise is really good for tackling their mental health.

"We're lucky that we've still got that additional space where children can go outside and still be children.

"Without covid, we would have been presented with one or two challenges, but in some ways, covid has enabled us to manage the situation of keeping the kids safe whilst our refurbishing work is going ahead."

The school has two outdoor courtyards, which survived the devastating fire, and both have now been completely transformed, with a magnificent wooden sculpture of a phoenix now dominating one of them.

Northwich Guardian:

One of the school's two courtyard's, which have also been transformed.

Not only do the courtyards provide the students will crucial outdoor space, they are also designed in a way that will hopefully inspire them and enjoy their educational experience.

Jack added: "The children are still coming to school inspired and they're enjoying their new surroundings.

"It's still nice to see children being children in those break out spaces.

"You've got some children, particularly our year 11's who were here pre-fire, during the phase in which the school was having to utilise the rest of the site, so seeing their faces on that first day was really positive.

"The phoenix seems quite apt and a testament to where the school is and where's it's going and hopefully it will stand there for the rest of history."

Northwich Guardian:

The phoenix sculpture in the second courtyard will hopefully inspire students about the school's story for many years to come.

With the school rising from the ashes, the long term investment being made by the Trust is already bearing fruit, to the benefit of the local community and the wider Northwich area.

"They're providing Northwich and Rudheath with a school of phenomenal standards, but also the standards of learning environments that children actually deserve, Jack said.

"If you look at how the school has risen from the ashes, hence the phoenix sculpture, we are opening the children's eyes to the resilience of the community and providing them with a sense of what is achievable.

"Learning in such well quipped classrooms and environments are a basic benchmark.

"Even those people like me who are not involved in the day to day teaching, we can still have a significant role to play in making sure children's eyes are opened to the world beyond the classroom.

"But also to esnure they are inspired and motivated by what they see around them."