Emergency services were called to the school at 1.20am when four of the classrooms and another significant building were found alight. 

About 150 Ararat West pupils, as well as teachers and parents, gathered in Ararat College’s indoor basketball court for an assembly to hear the latest information on the fire.

Ararat West principal Terry Keilar told the assembly he was grateful that the only things lost in the fire were material items that could be replaced.

“What happened on the weekend was very sad and we have lost a lot of things,” he said.

“We are working through with everyone involved to get back to our school as quick as we possibly can.

“The main thing we need to be doing is ensuring the safety of our kids and we’re very glad that, while we didn’t want a fire at our school, that it happened at night; no one was there and no one got hurt.”

Mr Keilar told the assembly that the school grounds had been released back to his administration following the emergency services’ efforts to extinguish and investigate the fire.

“It means that contractors from the Education Department are now on-site doing all their checks to make sure that everything is right and make the school safe,” he said.

“They will  clear everything away and the plumbers and electricians will come in and they will reinstate all the services to the school.

“Once that’s done, we will be able to go back to the school. We are hoping that occurs in the next three days.”

Mr Keilar said he was also grateful for the parents, community groups, other schools and Ararat businesses who had offered services and money to help Ararat West.

“It just shows kids the amount of support we have in the community,” he said.

“Ararat College have been absolutely outstanding in their support for our school community.

“They have created a space in their school that is just for us.

“We won’t be interacting with the secondary students at all.”

Mr Keilar said that while most of the fire damage would be covered be insurance, there was quite a lot that would have to be replaced by the school, including a number of books kept in storage.

Ararat’s other primary schools have made their student support services available to Ararat West .

Ararat College students have volunteered to help the younger children find their way around the high school grounds.

A therapy dog was also on hand to help pupils manage their anxiety.

After the assembly, parents rushed off to work or to get other children to school or care.

Ararat West Primary School parent Suzy Sewell said she felt “absolutely sick” when she heard about the fire.

Ms Sewell has a son in grade prep at the school and her stepdaughter and other son had attended the school in the past, as well as herself and her three sisters.

“We were just devastated and the kids were shattered,” she said.

“We got the call through and it was absolutely terrible.”

Ms Sewell said she had taken heart from the community’s response.

“It’s wonderful, It’s absolutely amazing,” she said.

“That’s what it’s about, living in a little town where everyone gets behind it.”