Swansea school fire in pictures

Around 40 classrooms at Penyrheol Comprehensive School in Gorseinon were damaged in the blaze.

The fire broke out at around 0100 GMT on Saturday.

Two 17-year-old youths have been released on police bail in connection to the fire. Officers have renewed their appeal for information.

Pupils who are coming up to sitting their examinations have course work which has gone up in flames here Head Alan Tootill

It emerged on Monday that the newly-refurbished school will be closed for the next seven to 10 days and parents are being asked to make alternative arrangements for their children.

Officials are considering how best to accommodate the 900-plus pupils and the preferred option is to remain on the site, using a combination of buildings which escaped the blaze and temporary classrooms.

Only the English and maths departments housed in an annexe were undamaged.

Head Alan Tootill said: "My thoughts initially were with the pupils and their parents, particularly the pupils who are coming up to sitting their examinations in the not too distant future who'll have course work which has gone up in flames here.

Only English and maths areas survived the inferno unscathed

"And my thoughts are also with the staff, many of whom have worked here for a long time and in many ways their life's resources, their notes, were also destroyed."

The blaze was so extensive that it required 60 firefighters more than four hours to bring it under control.

Water from the leisure centre swimming pool was used to douse the flames.

Meanwhile, police are keen to speak to the group of youths seen near the school grounds at around midnight on Friday as they may have important information.

Supt Julian Williams said: "We are asking that any people with information about the fire, especially the group of youths who were in this area at the time, to contact ourselves so that we can progress the enquiry as quickly as possible.

"The fire is being treated as suspicious at the moment with a joint investigation taking place between ourselves, the fire service and the forensic science service."