DISRUPTION hit Okehampton College this week when staff arrived on Monday to find a large part of it under three feet of water.
The college was closed on Monday and Tuesday with only a limited number of year groups having access for the remainder of the week.
Thousands of pounds of books and equipment stored in the basement were ruined and the library, canteen, English rooms and art rooms suffered severe flood damage.
It is believed to be the first time time in its history the college has suffered a serious flood — the cause being the leat behind the site.
'We get the occasional bit of flooding from the leat but this one has left us with a bit of a mess,' said a welly-clad headteacher Philip Herriman on Monday. 'The college is clearly unfit for human habitation.'
After receiving an early phone call from administrative bursar Jane Barratt, Mr Herriman decided to close the college down from his home at about 7.45am.
'The sheer volume of water was unbelievable,' said the headteacher.
'In the playground it was about four feet high and only the glass doors were preventing it from coming through into the whole school. It was like looking into a goldfish bowl
'There was a torrent coming down and we really thought the pressure would break the glass in the doors.'
Mr Herriman, who retires at the end of the year after 17 years at the college, said he never ceased to be surprised in his job but he was not anticipating this.
'If anybody wants to know where to put the swimming pool in Okehampton I know a good site,' he added jokingly.
'Seriously I would like to thank and congratulate the fire service for pumping out the basement after being up all night dealing with floods all over the area and all the caretaking and cleaning staff who have worked so hard.'
The college will re-open today (Thursday and tomorrow for Years 11, 12 and 13. Next week, all classes will be open except those for Year 7.