Arson attack on school shocks Bilston community

It was not just teachers, pupils and parents who were left in disbelief following an arson attack which destroyed a Black Country primary school in Bilston, as the whole community looked on at the charred remains where the school once stood.

Wilkinson Primary School was brought to the ground by the fire last Tuesday and the community is only now coming to terms with what had happened.

The watch commander from Walsall Fire Station, Nigel Walker, said:

“A total of 90 per cent of the building has been completely destroyed by fire.

“There is just partial walls and steelwork left standing. The roof and everything else has all come down.”

The council are hoping to find a temporary solution for after half-term, until the school can be rebuilt.

The site and buildings strategy manager for Wolverhampton City Council, Marc Webb, said:

“We’re moving as swiftly as we can now to arrange some kind of temporary accommodation for the pupils and staff after half-term, while at the same time getting the site ready to rebuild the school.

“In the longer term, the school will have to be rebuilt. It’s difficult to say at this stage how long that will be, but we are looking at least 12 months.”