A PREFAB village has been unveiled at a fire-hit school.

Eighteen temporary classrooms have been installed at Cecil Jones Academy, in Eastern Avenue, Southend, as staff and pupils come to terms with a devastating blaze.

A library and 15 classrooms were gutted in August - meaning lessons were taught in a dance studio and sports hall for the first three weeks of term.

A six week operation to clear out the destroyed sixth form block has now began - with the school expected to find out within six weeks whether it needs to be completely rebuilt.

Executive principal Bev Williams said: “The temporary classrooms are for maths, social sciences and there are two science labs.

“It’s been called the Village - it looks good, it’s formed into a square.

“Everyone has pulled together to make sure there has been no negative effect on the children.

“They’re starting to clear out the burnt building - they have six weeks to do it.

“Once done, the engineer will go in to test whether we need a whole new build or just a top floor.”

Mrs Williams said the start of term has run extremely well considering the circumstances, which she has put down to careful planning and the hard work of the whole school team.

She added: “It’s been a really smooth start to the term because of the attention to detail. Everyone knows where their rooms are. For example, a maths teacher was given a dance studio as a classroom.

Martin Ovenden, academy principal, said: “The quality of the accommodation is very good and the quality of teaching and learning will continue to a high standard.”