The head teacher of a Willesden primary school which was severely damaged by fire on Tuesday afternoon has written to tell her pupils how proud she is of their bravery.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Head teacher Dawn Titus has written to pupils thanking them for their braveryHead teacher Dawn Titus has written to pupils thanking them for their bravery (Image: Archant)

Dawn Titus, head teacher of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Primary school in Goodson Road released a letter onto the school’s website thanking her 540 pupils for following their teachers to safety as flames tore through the roof and upper floors of their Victorian school building.

Mrs Titus said: “I want you to know that I am so proud of you. You remembered how to leave the building when the alarm rings; you stayed calm and you were all very brave.”

The head teacher addressed pupils’ worries about coats, bags and PE kits destroyed in the burning building and reassured them: “The Catholic Children’s Society is going to help me replace them for you.”

The school remains closed today as the investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

There were no reported injuries following the blaze which took fire crews six hours to extinguish.

Yesterday the school released a statement informing parents of ongoing discussions with Brent council and the Catholic diocese in Willesden to find temporary teaching venues so children aged from two to 11 years can return to school.

The head teacher said she had received an outpouring of offers of help and messages of support from schools in Brent and across London.

She added: “I promise you that I will keep working hard to bring us all back together very soon.

“Please remember our school prayer in which it says many hands build a house, but many hearts make a school.

“This is what will make us stronger; our love of the school and our care for each other.”

Click here to read the letter in full.

For updates throughout the day parents should visit St Joseph’s school website and follow @bktimes on Twitter.