They're a class act

20/12/2007

Novel educational projects that caught the eye of our readers have been given a cash boost.School children from mid-Essex were invited to the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, for the presentation of our Cash for Schools competition.

Cheques for more than £8,000 were handed to youngsters to fund musical boxes, school gardens and dance studios after readers voted them the most worthy causes.

The awards were divided into three categories - the sport section was sponsored by the Chronicle, Anglia Ruskin University sponsored the education category and Essex & Suffolk Water supported the environmental section.

Chronicle editor-in-chief Matt Holder introduced the awards, starting with the education category.

First prize, of £1,500, went to St Philip's Priory School in New London Road, Chelmsford, for its musical box.

Head teacher Sister Michelle said: "We are going to buy musical instruments that we will lend out to other schools and nurseries as well as using them ourselves.

"There will be lots of different percussion instruments that are from different cultures, it won't just be basic tambourines."

Buttsbury Infants School in Perry Street, Billericay, came second, winning £750 to spend on resurfacing the playground and improving the outside space and in third place, winning £400, was Danbury Park Community Primary School in Well Lane.

It will spend the cash on pergolas for children to curl up in to read their books.

Introducing the first prize winner in the environmental section, Mr Holder said: "Hogarth Primary School in Brentwood serves the Brentwood local authority housing estate and the Newham local authority overspill estate.

"Many of the families live in crowded conditions and in poor quality housing, which means the children start school from a disadvantaged position compared to other children in Brentwood."

The school in Riseway will spend its £1,500 on improving the outside play area for reception and pre-school children.

Jane Mills, foundation co-ordinator, said: "The children are really excited, we are absolutely delighted that we won first prize. We will be able to do so much with this money."

Hatfield Peverel Infant School in Church Road won second prize for its vegetable garden and St Peters Church of England Primary School in School Road, South Weald took home £400 to create a wildlife area and wormery in the garden, which was started with last year's Cash for Schools prize.

First prize in the sport section went to Heybridge Primary School in Rowan Drive, which intends to use the money to maintain the healthy schools status by installing play equipment and playground markings that encourage the children to keep active.

Meadgate Primary School in Mascalls Way, Great Baddow won £750 to refurbish the changing rooms at the school pool and The Sandon School, in Molrams Lane, Chelmsford, will put the third prize award of £400 towards converting a classroom into a dance studio.

Andrea Hilliard, of Anglia Ruskin University, said: "This competition really demonstrates the imagination and willingness to succeed of the teachers, heads and school governors here in Essex."

This year 36 projects made the shortlist and 3,229 votes were cast.

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