A BRAVE headteacher stepped her way across a path of more than 2,000 Lego pieces to raise money at a record-breaking school fayre.
At the end of the summer term, Dickens Heath Community Primary School headteacher Jacqueline Nicholls gingerly accepted the challenge after pupils pledged more than £300 in spare change to force her into it.
Mrs Nicholls’ efforts have helped the school’s Parent, Teacher and Friends Association raise a record £12,700 to spend on projects to support the school from September.
Playing the guitar and singing We Will Rock You to take her mind off the pain, Mrs Nicholls completed the challenge in style.
The school said it topped off a record fundraising year for the PTFA which has also seen it organising film nights, discos, dress down days and gifts such as personalised Christmas cards and mugs to boost charity income.
It says the bumper fundraising tally has already enabled the school to completely replace the audio-visual and lighting equipment in the school hall.
It has funded new, fox-proof, hen houses for the school farm, purchased more than 50 new sports kits so children representing the school in sporting competitions can wear their school logo with pride.
And it has also provided support to a number of school events – including a performance of Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat by the upper Key Stage Two pupils.
The Summer Fayre also saw the culmination of the school’s new Life Ready challenge for year five pupils, in which 58 children grouped themselves into teams and launched nine mini-businesses.
They sold products or ran activities at the fayre to raise money for the school.
The pupils threw themselves into the challenge and collectively raised over £600 from their efforts.
Mrs Nicholls said: “This has been another fantastic year for the school and I am eternally grateful for all of the support given by parents in so many ways.
“I am particularly proud of our year five pupils, who have really stepped up to the mark and shown what ‘Life Ready’ young people they are-showing determination, self-management, organisation, problem solving and team work, in order to get the job done.
“Roll on next year for an even bigger challenge.”
