Post-fire support to Auckland Normal Intermediate

The Faculty of Education and Social Work is opening its doors to Auckland Normal Intermediate students displaced by the fire the week before the start of term.

A fire at Auckland Normal Intermediate on 23 January destroyed the school hall.

Pupils at Auckland Normal Intermediate (ANI) who are without a hall for class sorting on their first delayed day back at the school will have the use of the Faculty of Education and Social Work's astro-turf gym next week.

The school hall adjacent to the Epsom Campus was destroyed when a blaze engulfed the hall and specialist science, music and art classrooms on 23 January. The start of the school year was then delayed for a week as school management made plans to reconfigure teaching spaces.

As part of its commitment to community engagement and neighbourliness, the faculty reached out to the school and offered space on Epsom Campus.

From Monday 4 February the school will be using the campus astro-turf gym as a base for student administration, family briefings and class sorting. Teaching space is also being discussed.

The arrangements are temporary, and will not affect students at the University, the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Work, Associate Professor Mark Barrow said.

Meantime, Epsom staff and students will be assuring the displaced pupils and teachers a warm welcome.