AN action plan has been but in place to get York High School pupils back to school from next week.

City of York Council and the school’s head teacher David Ellis, revealed a multi-site solution to get the school’s 896 students back in the classroom from Monday.

Speaking at a press conference in the Guildhall yesterday, Mr Ellis said the bulk of the students, 600, will be taught at Manor CE School, with the remaining students being split between Burnholme Community College which will have 158 students and Westfield Primary School in Acomb with 183.

All children will be taught in their year groups at the three schools for a fortnight, leading up to the half-term holiday.

Following the half term break pupils will be taught in the undamaged parts of the existing school buildings and 14 Portakabins.

Mr Ellis said: “This has been a devastating experience for everybody associated with the school, a hugely emotional experience and one that none of us wants to go through again, but it’s one that’s brought the whole community together and the response, both from the community and the council, has been fantastic.”

The plan has been put together following a blaze which devastated a third of the school in Acomb in the early hours of Friday morning.

Under the plan the school will be closed until Monday and in the meantime the council has put on a range of free activities across the city for pupils to sign up to.

Arrangements from Monday for two weeks are as follows:

* Year 7 pupils will be based at Westfield Primary School from 9.15am to 3.30pm.

* Year 8 pupils will be based at Burnholme Community College – transport will be provided and further details will be available from York High School later today.

* Years 9 to 11 will be based at Manor CE School from 2pm to 6pm daily, transport details will again be confirmed by the school later today.

Pete Dwyer, director of children’s services, said: “We are hugely grateful for the enormous response we have had from across the city, from the business community, the education community and also the local community. I think parents have fully understood the tragic nature of the fire and the fact that it isn’t easy to find quick solutions for the children’s education.”

Mr Dwyer added that the fire service investigation was still on-going and it could be weeks before the cause of the fire was determined. He said there were no early signs that it was caused deliberately.

There will be a meeting for all York High School parents tonight at 6.30pm at Westfield Primary School.