STUDENTS at Farmor’s school in Fairford are determined that they will help to raise the funds needed for their new sixth form extension.

Since the appeal was launched last September, pupils have been running a host of fundraising events including mobile phone collections, car washes and a rag bag collection, which sends clothes to countries overseas in need.

And in January sixth form students and heads of house organised the annual House Factor talent show competition, which raised to £200 in tickets sales alone for the sixth form extension.

However, the estimated £250,000 needed is still some way off, despite a donation of £30,000 to the fund from The Elizabeth Farmor Trust.

Emma White, head of sixth said: “It is going more slowly than we had hoped and the school is at present one fifth of the way there. Students have run lots of events and they keep coming up with great new ideas to raise money. They are recycling mobile phones and are planning a big fete day in the summer.”

The plans for the two-storey extension are still waiting for planning approval. “That is a bit frustrating because we can’t put the scheme out to tender until the plans come back,” said Mrs White.

Mrs White is still hopeful that building might commence in September when the sixth form will receive its highest intake to date of around 300 pupils. “We are still desperately hoping that we will have something started in September but it is a long road,” she said.

* Go to www.farmors.gloucs.sch.uk for more information on the fundraising campaign.