Rebuilding the school is likely to cost at least �1.5m. Work to demolish the building started on Sunday.

We were all in tears as the buildings were destroyed - this was our second home

Carol Basini, head teacher

The South Wales Fire Service has declined to comment on the cause of the fire or unconfirmed reports of children seen at the school beforehand.

Up to 80% of the school was badly damaged in the fire, although no-one was injured..

Scenes of crime police officers, a forensic science team and the fire service's investigation team were at the scene on Friday morning.

Emergency provision

A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taff council said that nothing could be salvaged from the wreckage.

Head teacher Carol Basini - who witnessed the blaze - said the scene was one of "total devastation".

"We were all in tears as the buildings were destroyed - this was our second home," she said.

Mike Keating from Rhondda Cynon Taff council's education department, said the school had been scheduled to be closed on Friday for a staff training day.

The Victorian building had only recently undergone a �340,000 refurbishment to make room for more pupils.

Within the last three years, several schools in the area have been damaged by fires.