St Peter’s Primary School in Budleigh Salterton has launched a fundraising campaign to renovate its classrooms.

St Peter’s has three ‘temporary’ classrooms that are over 40 years old and have been at the school for half of that time.

One of these classrooms was recently featured on a BBC Panorama expose on Britain’s crumbling schools, as an example of where, often in the winter, children had to wear coats, scarfs and even clothes in order to work.

Headteacher Steve Hitchcock says that a 'huge reduction' in government investment in school buildings, has meant that St Peter's will not be considered for new classrooms. Since being featured on Panorama there has been a wave of support and a real desire to make things better.

They are now looking to raise £3,790 to fund two new energy-efficient Heat Pump & AC unit for a classroom to keep students warm during winter.

£700k would mean we could replace two classrooms completely.

Members of the public can also help by getting involved with their 'community challenge' Pupils, and anyone who would like to support the school to complete a sponsored activity.

St Peter's School has also launched a government petition for members of the public to sign to ensure every school gets the investment they need from the government. You can sign the ‘Increase Funding for Maintenance of School Buildings and Building New Schools Petition’.

Pied Piper AC has already responded to the school appeal and donated a free energy efficient Heat Pump & AC unit to the school.

Steve Hitchcock, headteacher, said: “We are indebted to the kindness of Gareth and the Pied Piper team for supplying and fitting the Heat Pump & AC unit for free.

“The children and staff were so pleased. It will not only provide better working conditions in the winter and summer but save us money on energy too.”

Gareth Marshall, executive director of Pied Piper AC, said: “We sadly know only too well how extreme temperatures affect the learning experience in our classrooms, so it gave us great pleasure to be able to support St Peter’s with a fully installed Air Conditioning solution.

“This new Midea System will significantly reduce their energy bills, cut the school’s carbon footprint and, most importantly, improve the quality of learning for generations of pupils”.