Home / Education / Teen's £900 in Valuables Gone After School Blaze, No Refund
Teen's £900 in Valuables Gone After School Blaze, No Refund
17 Dec, 2025
Summary
- A 14-year-old's phone, boots, and AirPods were destroyed in a school fire.
- The family's request for reimbursement from the council was denied.
- Newport City Council cited insurance policy exclusions for personal items.
A devastating school fire has left a 14-year-old boy without his valuable possessions, estimated to be worth around £900. The teenager had left a bag containing an iPhone, football boots, and Apple AirPods in a temporary building at Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed in Newport when the blaze occurred in July. His mother has voiced strong objections to the council's stance.
Newport City Council has confirmed that they will not be reimbursing the family for the lost items. A spokesperson for the council explained that personal belongings are not included in the school's insurance coverage. Furthermore, the council stated that schools are not permitted to issue payments to cover such losses under any circumstances.
The mother of the affected teenager has labeled the situation as "disgusting" and is advocating for a policy change. She believes the school or local authority should offer some form of compensation for the irreplaceable items lost due to the fire. The council, however, maintains its adherence to existing insurance and payment protocols.
