Education officials found out more today how school staff swung into action following a devastating fire.

A party of education officials and others visited the Hoo Peninsula to find out how teachers, pupils and other staff have been coping since a huge blaze at St James Primary School, on the Isle of Grain.

They were told how education for nearly 120 pupils was able to continue despite the devastating fire.

In just seven days, The Williamson Trust, which is one of the school’s sponsors, was able to carry out work to bring parts of its nearby Allhallows Primary School into use as classrooms.

It also had to buy new tables and chairs, stationery and books and arrange for pupils to be bussed the four miles from Grain to Allhallows each day.

The special visit was arranged for education officials from Medway Council who visited Allhallows to hear first hand the accounts of those involved in the operation.

Michael Costello, chairman of the Williamson Trust, said: “This was a remarkable achievement by all those involved to ensure the education of the children was not disrupted.

“The pupils only missed three days of school despite this awful fire and that shows it was a great commitment from all to ensure their continued education.

“So many people worked tirelessly so the children had a school to go to and I’d like to thank everyone who was involved including all the staff, parents and the children themselves for making the transition to Allhallows as seamless as possible.”

Only about 20% of the St James school was deemed usable after the fire, meaning early years classes were the only ones able to continue.

It is envisaged the school will be rebuilt and open by September 2017.

Before visiting Allhallows, the group also went along to the trust’s Hundred of Hoo Academy for the ground-breaking ceremony to mark the start of work on a new primary school at the Academy.

The new school, which will have one form of entry, will run as an ‘all through academy’ providing education for children aged four to 19.

The school is expected to open in September 2017 and will cater for 210 pupils.

Medway Council is responsible for funding and managing the project.

Cllr Andrew Mackness, head of Children’s Services, said: “The expansion of the Hundred of Hoo Academy will go some way in meeting the demand for primary school places on the Peninsula and I look forward to seeing the build progress over the next year.

“We have worked closely with the Williamson Trust to design the new building, and will continue to liaise with them as this vital project progresses.”