GA flight Instructor reported a student on a solo flight experienced a hard landing and bounced the aircraft twice before regaining control and taxiing off. The aircraft was flown by other pilots a few days after the incident before it was found to have fire wall damage during a scheduled maintenance inspection.

Narrative

I am a flight instructor who endorsed my student pilot; to complete his 1st solo cross country on Day 0. His route was ZZZ-ZZZ1-ZZZ2-ZZZ. My knowledge is second hand as it's based on what my student told me regarding a hard landing back at ZZZ that day. When he came into land he bounced and made the mistake of not going around immediately. The airplane bounced two more times and then he taxied off. He then secured the plane and did a post inspection and saw no damage. Days after his cross country the plane flew with multiple other student pilots for more than 6 more flight hours. On Day 2; the airplane then went into an 100 hour inspection where they found that the firewall was bent. On Day 7; I was told the plane has currently sustained substantial damage. On that day (Day 7) the flight school told my student training would be suspended until further notice. Prior to knowing my student would be suspended my plan was to complete a ground safety session regarding the importance of going around in different situations and practice just landings with him until he built the confidence and skill he needs to make better judgment calls. Due to the fact the airplane does have the damage that it does I am reporting the situation as I know it as the endorsing instructor.