A Hove school sent home scores of pupils this morning after a fire in the boys’ toilets.
Cardinal Newman told parents that nobody was hurt in the fire, but it was closing the school to years 10 and 11.
The boys’ toilets were out of action and there was smoke damage to other parts of the school.
The school’s message said: “We have today made the very difficult decision to close the school to years 10 and 11 only due to a fire in our main school toilets.
“The fire was contained very quickly and gratefully no one was hurt in the incident. However both the police and the fire brigade advised that the main toilets would be out of action on the boys’ side all day and this, as well as further smoke damage around the school, means we have decided to close the school to the older years.
“We did of course say if any students didn’t feel able to make their own way home that we would support them in school.
“To be honest this was not a decision any of us would have wanted to make but there was simply no option.
“The fire started before the beginning of the school day and the decision to dismiss was made whilst the students were still out on the school field.”
A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to small fire at 8.55am today, out on arrival. No casualties. Property evacuated. Stop message 9.10am.
“Please contact Sussex Police re: is this being treated as suspicious.”
Sussex Police have been contacted for comment.









The School should be reopened for older years as it wouldnt be fair to the younger years and they need more homework because they werent there
bro wth
Honestly, reopen the school for the older years too. Why do the little ones get VIP access while Years 10–11 are sent home like DLC characters? Now we’re gonna get triple the homework to ‘make up for it’ even though we weren’t the ones who set the bathroom on fire 💀
its all part of our winter arc bru. the little ankle biters have to stay in school like the neeks they are whilst us year 10 and 11 main characters get to leave school early. homework is just part of the process of reaching psl 8 true adams/eves fr you js dont see the vision lil bruh 😭✌️
The fire was in the older years toilets so they had to go home it would be to chaotic in the other toilets.
It was year 11’s
Disgraceful
Should’ve sent home year 9s too
Vro the y11s and 12s are so lucky I honestly thought I could leave🪫
Whoever put the fire out is an absolute hero
A well hydrated young man.
Very scary
this was such a good day!!! had so much fun at the game with all my rugby lads!! we went too hove park before hand and it was rather magnificent!!
I have trauma.
I’m a student at Newman and everyone thought it was a drill first.
shoutout rory mitchell for pressing the firealarm 🥹✌️
I know, Rory & Pamala are absolute legends.
This was a very dangerous event! I witnessed it first hand and it was truly shocking.
This is unacceptable! How can this happen?😡😡😡
son 🥀
THE ONLY DAY I MISS TS HAPPENS
Pamala or Rory pulled the fire alarm
This was a traumatising event, i will be forever scared
I’m a younger year and the fire took over 40 minutes to be put out