The headteacher of one of the Newham schools closed due to a false widow spider infestation has thanked two of the borough’s colleges for providing classrooms to allow teaching to carry on.

Pupils at Lister Community School were among thousands across the borough to miss lessons as a result of the spider infestations, with the buildings needing to be closed for fumigation.

Headteacher Anthony Wilson told the Recorder that the school would be reopening on Wednesday morning for Years 7 to 9 only, with pupils from all year groups due in for the entire day on Thursday.

He added: “We are very grateful to Newham Collegiate Sixth Form and to NewVIc which have both generously provided spaces for classes for many of our students while the main site has been closed.

“Our students showed great commitment to their education, turning up to the alternative sites and making very good use of the classes we were able to organise.”