Pupils at a secondary school which suffered a £3 million arson attack will today continue their GCSE studies at a Brighton College.

Tideway School, in Southdown Road, Newhaven, has been off limits for pupils during a clear-up operation and they will not be able to return for another week.

The £3 million repair cost following the fire, on April 5, is triple the original estimate and East Sussex County Council education officers believe it could be a year before work is completed.

Brighton and Hove City Council has offered GCSE students facilities at East Brighton College of Media Arts, which has been accepted.

During the next few days, students in Years 7 to 10 will be provided with materials and guidance to enable them to work from home.

The county council said the schools priority was to restore normal lessons as soon as possible.

Adrian Money, headteacher at Tideway, said: The aim is to get Years 7 to 10 back to school by next Monday, but Year 11 will remain at Comart for the next four weeks until their study leave starts.

They are being taught by Tideway staff and being bussed there from Newhaven.

All the students have had some learning this last week but priority has been given to Year 11, who have their GCSEs in five weeks, and Year 9 pupils, who have their Key Stage 3 exams in two weeks.

The blaze destroyed Tideways main hall, reception and staff rooms and more han 70 firefighters tackled the fire.

Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with the blaze at the 900-pupil school.

He is due to appear in court on May 10