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Fire crews contained the blaze in the early hours of Tuesday morning but the gym and changing rooms suffered extensive damage with teaching and administrative areas largely saved. Nobody was hurt in the blaze and no student work was lost.

Maria Williams, Sherburn’s headteacher, praised the Sherburn-in-Elmet community for its generosity and support throughout the week.

She said: “The support from the local community continues to be phenomenal. Friends of Sherburn High School (FOSH) have set up a Go Fund Me fundraiser in response to all the generous offers of donations.

Sherburn High School headteacher Maria Williams.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of #TeamSherburn and this wonderful community and look forward to having our students back.”

School staff returned to the school on Wednesday preparing for students to return and working with North Yorkshire County Council staff on the clean-up operation.

Year 6 pupils from local primary schools, who usually spend the last three weeks of the summer term in Sherburn High to get accustomed to life in a secondary school, returned to their primary schools. They will remain in their primary schools today and will be updated about further arrangements in due course.

Mrs Williams added: “This has been a very difficult time but everybody has pulled together.

3 July 2018...... Police investigators at the scene of a fire which destroyed changing rooms and damaged the gymnasium at Sherburn High School near Leeds. Picture Tony Johnson.

“We are looking forward to getting on with teaching and learning and with all the exciting things we have lined up for the end of term, including our theatre production and overseas residential trips.

“We’re pleased to say that students can continue to wear their summer uniform of polo shirts in house colours but with shorts or tracksuit bottoms. This will allow PE lessons to continue as normal.”

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Schools said: “It’s great Sherburn High can get back to business-as-usual tomorrow.

“The school’s leadership team and staff, along with county council staff, have worked incredibly hard on the clean-up operation and to reorganise teaching and learning areas to accommodate all students.

“This is a school with a great community and dedicated staff that have risen to the challenge.”

North Yorkshire Police has launched an investigation into the fire with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Blaze hit Sherburn High reopens to pupils