Local Businesses Pledge Support for Ripley School Expansion

As part of a campaign to raise funds for expanding the existing infant school into a primary school, Ripley Church of England Primary School invited local businesses to a Companies Open Day on November 9th.

With no capital funding available through the County Council, the school have taken it upon themselves to raise the £340,000 required to cover the building costs for three new classrooms to house the junior school. In doing so, the school is set to become the first ever self-funded school redevelopment in Surrey. A final £80,000 is required.

The companies open day hosted at the school on Friday 9th November welcomed around 30 local businesses. The morning began with an introduction by Head Teacher Margaret Walker, followed by a tour of the school led by the Governors. The children demonstrated their talents at poetry reading and music. The morning ended with an open questions forum followed by lunch sponsored at the Talbot Inn.

Rev. Chris Elson, school governor said "Our purpose in seeking to change is a positive one. We are doing this because we think it is educationally good for our children and because it has been the aspiration of the school and broader community."

The local businesses pledged to support the school in many different ways. The Ripley Farmers Market offered £5000 towards the expansion and donated a pitch at their monthly market as a platform for promoting the school campaign amongst the village.

The Talbot Inn of Ripley offered £2000 and the unique opportunity for the children of Ripley school to devise a pudding, which would be put onto the menu and profits for every pudding sold donated back to the school.

Other contributions included landscaping for the new classrooms by The Green Room Contemporary Gardens Ltd and Surrey Produce offered a percentage from sales of organic vegetable boxes sold to parents, going back to the school.

Riz Mohammed, one of the parents hosting the event said, "The village is aware of the good reputation of the school. Local businesses are keen to support a community initiative that will improve their neighbourhood so it is no surprise that the response at today's Companies Day was so positive".