Community turns out in force to help spruce up a Harborough primary school as it gears up to celebrate its 50th anniversary

Fifty volunteers have got together to help spruce up a Market Harborough primary school as it gears up to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Ridgeway Primary Academy put out the call for staff, pupils, parents, local people and businesses to help it clean up its grounds as it racks up its half century next year.

And they turned out in force to stain all the wooden structures in the Reception playground, create wildlife gardens, plant up old raised beds and tidy up outdoors.

The initiative went ahead as part of the school’s ‘Project Pride’ scheme.

Sarah Bishop, the executive head at Ridgeway Primary Academy, said: “Our school is absolutely fantastic, as is the effort all our pupils and staff put into learning every day.

“We want the environment, both inside and out, to reflect this in spite of the school’s age.

“So we decided to show her some love and attention in readiness for our new intake and as we get ready to celebrate our 50th birthday in 2022.”

She added: “It was amazing to see so many faces helping us paint, weed, plant and tidy over the weekend – and seeing all the donations from local businesses was incredibly humbling.

“We had plants and seeds from The Langton Garden Centre, Homebase and the Co-op on Coventry Road.

“Refreshments were donated by Jute Coffee and The Pop Up Café.

“Not to mention local companies Jones Logging & Tree Surgery and Kams Tree Surgery (Northampton), who put in hours of hard work.

“The week before last we also had a team from David Wilson Homes on site, along with many of their contractors, transforming our Reception space, which was tremendous,” added Sarah.

“We are so very lucky – thank you to everyone who has helped us.”

Project Pride will continue into the autumn as the school gets ready to receive 420 trees from The Woodland Trust.

The school is setting out to complete hedging at the back of its grounds to create green corridors, a pollution-reducing barrier between the car park and playing fields and a mini orchard.

The school is also preparing to run its first ever summer camp with sister school Great Bowden Academy as well as launching an after-school club to match its current Breakfast Club.

“This last 18 months has been so stop-start for parents and our pupils that we wanted to offer them as much continuity and routine as possible,” said Sarah.

“Our parents have regularly asked about onsite after school facilities.

“We are delighted to be able to offer formal wraparound care from September – a wonderful addition and another milestone in our school’s history.”