£21,000 Raised For Duxford School After Devastating Fire

The cash has been donated to help Duxford CofE Community Primary School, Duxford Pre-school and the DX after school club get back on their feet.

After the devastating fire at the school in July this year, school staff and council officials worked with builders to re-open in September with very little disruption to pupils returning to continue their studies. The DX club and Duxford Pre-school were able to open fully in October.

Following the fire, a JustGiving page was swiftly set up by Helen Andrews - Clerk to the school’s Governing Body - issuing a plea to the local community to help the school raise funds so it could get back up and running by the start of term. The response was overwhelming.

Suzanne Blackburne-Maze, Headteacher at the school, said the donations will be used to improve or create several exciting new areas, which will ensure the wellbeing of current and future pupils.

She said: “I cannot thank the community enough for their generous donations and show of support to our school. I speak on behalf of all my colleagues when I say that without the community's support we wouldn’t be where we are now – we really have come back stronger.

“The donations will go towards a number of exciting new developments including training a member of staff to become a Forest School Practitioner and establishing part of an outdoor area (pictured) into a Forest School. We have already set up a new ‘Nurture Room’ to support vulnerable pupils wellbeing, helping them to develop in a safe environment.

“Our children have had such a tough year, but it is heart-warming to see how the improvements and new equipment are already having such a positive impact on our current pupils, and I am confident they will continue to do so for new pupils in the years to come."