School that just re-opened after flood damage is flooded again by Storm Bert

A primary school that reopened on Tuesday after flood damage has been hit by devastating floods again due to Storm Bert.

Year 3 and 4 classrooms at Holmer Church of England Academy in Hereford were back in use on Tuesday after months of repair work, only for the school to be submerged by floods yet again.

A major incident has been declared in parts of south Wales and dozens more flood warnings are in place as Storm Bert brings more than a month’s worth of rain in some areas.

Holmer CoE Academy, rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2019, was struck by a ‘devastating flood’ during a storm in late September, which brought with it ‘significant damage’ to year 3 and 4 classrooms.

Repair work was completed on Monday, with pupils beginning lessons in the newly refurbished learning spaces the following day.

One Hereford resident even warned the school on X on Friday: “Make sure the barriers are in for storm Bert this weekend.’

Pictures show, however, that Storm Bert has brought ‘heartbreaking’ new flood damage around the school, with the same classrooms now ‘ruined again’.

Hereford residents expressed their shock that flood damage has struck the school ‘again’.

Facebook user Katie Bullock commented: ‘Heartbreaking. The children only moved back into this block on Tuesday. 

‘Good job all the Holmer children and staff are so resilient.’

Linda Elson added: ‘This poor school needs moving or a moat built around it.’

Local football team Westfields FC, who are also trying to prevent water flooding their club, took to social media to say: ‘So sad to see after all the hard work to refurbish after the last floods.’

When a storm last swept through Hereford in September, the school said that ‘dedicated staff donned their wellies and got straight to work’ over a weekend to ensure that lessons could take place on Monday.

Holmer CoE Academy has been hit by flooding in the past, with Storm Dennis in February 2020 causing significant damage to the facilities and forcing the school to run classes in a Hereford health club.

One former pupil at the primary school, Gemma Jones, noted: ‘That one building has always flooded, even back in the late 90s when I was there it’s always been a problem. I hope there isn’t to much damage again.’

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