Excitement bubbled over at a primary school in Brondesbury as pupils returned from the summer holidays to new playground equipment and their first ever minibus.
Staff, pupils and parents at Malorees Infant & Junior School, in Christchurch Avenue, saw the results of months of fundraising and a boost from National Lottery coffers.
The double boost to the school was thanks to a year-long campaign by parents to raise more than £35,000.
Pupils raised £25,000 with a number of events including a moonwalk across Primrose Hill and Hampstead Heath in June. Sixteen parents also raised £17,000 in sponsorship at the Blenheim Triathlon during the same month.
They were able to buy climbing frame equipment after the parent body successfully applied for £10,000 match funding from the National Lottery Fund.
Megan Deards, age nine, of Malorees School Council, said: “We still can’t believe it. The climbing frame was top of everyone’s wish-list but we never thought it would happen. Now the teachers can’t get us off it!”
Ethan Jessop, six, said “The minibus is great because we will go on more school trips and do more sport.”
It’s been a good year for the school which was gifted woodland belonging to Network Homes in July, meaning it can expand its outdoor learning.
Giles Deards, of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), said: “We’re thrilled for the children but also delighted at the way our school and the local community came together to make this happen, whether donning wet-suits and plunging into rivers, walking across London or making donations.
“We’re also very grateful to the National Lottery for its investment in the climbing frame or this couldn’t have happened. It’s put us all in a great mood for the school year ahead”.
Sian Davies, executive headteacher said: “This is great news for the children – a huge boost to outdoor learning.”
The school also received sponsorship from local partners including Brondesbury-based Nuffield Health and The Property Lounge.
The PTA is now offering to help other schools in Brent with fundraising ideas to plug any education spending gaps.
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