Pendleton College in Salford was evacuated this morning after fire broke out in a second-floor classroom.
Five fire crews were called to the sixth-form college on Dronfield Road at 10.05am on Thursday 19 May.
As of 10.50am they were still tackling the blaze.
Six firefighters in breathing apparatus trained two hose reels on the flames to bring them under control.
All pupils were safely evacuated to the playing fields outside the college and no-one is thought to have been injured.
Dramatic pictures from the scene show flames and black smoke pouring into the sky as part of the college’s arts block caught fire.
The fire is understood to have started in a photography classroom while children were inside.
Around 20 firefighters were called to the scene from Eccles, Agecroft and Manchester Central stations.
Pictures from the aftermath of the fire show the damage done to the outside of the building.
By Becky Hill
By Rachelle Daniels
Some students were halfway through sitting exams when the fire broke out and they had to be evacuated.
Student Lewis Nelson, 17, told SalfordOnline.com: “I was sitting philosophy, and was evacuated one hour into a 90-minute exam.
“The media exam was also disrupted.
“We know the media and photography room was destroyed including students coursework.”
“Nobody knows what is going on and everyone is in a panic, we’re having a meeting to find out what’s going to happen to our exam.”
Lewis, who was elected Salford City Youth Mayor, later said students would resume their exams as normal later today and the college would apply for special consideration for anyone affected.
Calls to the college were being diverted to Eccles while emergency crews dealt with the fire and no-one was immediately available for comment.
Main image by Mike Featherstone
