YORK MP Hugh Bayley praised York High School staff and the local authority for their handling of the fire aftermath.

Mr Bayley spoke to The Press on a tour around the devastated school building yesterday morning.

He said: “What is extraordinary is the way the head teacher, the staff, the school and the Local Authority as well as other schools in the area have pulled together over the weekend to get supervised activities organised for the pupils this week and their efforts to get the children back to school as soon as possible.

“I have written to the head teacher, David Ellis, saying that it is in times of adversity like this that York’s community spirit comes to the fore and it makes you realise just how lucky we are to live in a city like this where people pull out all the stops when it really matters.”

The council has been working with its partners across the city to put together a programme of non-compulsory out of school activities for pupils of York High School following Friday’s fire.

These include: rugby sessions with the York City Knights at Huntington Community Sports, Huntington Secondary School from 10am-noon every weekday. To book phone Ian Wilson at York City Knights on (01904) 758234 or 07739320592, or email ian@ycknights.co.uk, yorkcityknights.co.uk

Oaklands Sports Centre will also have badminton, fitness sessions, climbing, tennis, football, trampoline and dance or yoga.

These activities will be available from today onwards.

There will also be art and craft at The ArtSpace, Opposite Clifford’s Tower, 8, Tower Street, York, YO1 9SA. Sessions will take place between 10am and 4pm. To book, phone: 01904 671709, 07973 653702 or email: theartspace@googlemail.com website: theartspaceyork.com Full details of activities, venues and times and a downloadable version of a parental consent form are available and on the Yor-ok website at yor-ok.org.uk/yorkhigh