30^th January 2026

 

 

CRITICAL INCIDENT

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

I want to reassure you that everyone at Forestdale Primary School is safe following the fire that occurred on Thursday 29th January 2026.

 

When the fire alarm sounded, pupils and staff evacuated immediately using our well‑practised procedures. Everyone left the building calmly and sensibly, and no one was hurt or injured. We are incredibly proud of how maturely the children responded, and I encourage you to praise them at home.

 

A section of the school has been affected by fire and smoke. We are now working closely with the Fire Service and specialist building professionals to assess the full extent of the damage and plan the necessary repairs. We will only reopen once we are completely satisfied that it is safe.

 

School closure

For safety reasons, school will be closed to all pupils on Friday 30th January and Monday 2nd February 2026.

 

Collecting belongings

Pupils may come to school on Friday 30 January to collect any personal belongings from the Main Entrance (entry through the side door), which has not been affected by the incident. Staff will be on hand to support children and families.

 

Free School Meals (FSM) provision

 

We will be providing packed lunches for pupils eligible for Free School Meals. These can be collected from Main Entrance side door  between 10.30-11.30.

 

Learning during closure

 

Work packs will be available for pupils, and additional learning resources will be uploaded to our school website to support home learning during the temporary closure.

 

Next update

We will write to all parents and carers again by 4.00pm on Monday 2nd February with an update on progress, the repair timeline, and confirmation of reopening arrangements.

 

We understand that this is a worrying and disruptive time, and we are grateful for your patience and support. If your child feels anxious or needs additional reassurance, please let us know so we can support them.

 

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact the school office on 0121 464 8659. Further information and support are also available on our school website https://www.forestdale.bham.sch.uk/.

 

Thank you once again for your cooperation and understanding.

 

Best wishes,

 

Mr D Foster

Headteacher

Forestdale Primary School