Woodhouse Grove School raises £1,600 for Barnardo’s in conjunction with the Boarding Schools’ Association Golden Jubilee National Boarding Week 20th-26th June 2016.

The children of Woodhouse Grove School, based in Apperley Bridge, West Yorkshire, have been celebrating the Boarding Schools’ Association Golden Jubilee National Boarding Week 20th-26th June 2016 with a number of fundraising and fun activities. Over just seven days, they have managed to raise a staggering £1,600 which Simon Vernon, Head of Boarding, presented to Amanda Warrent, Regional Fundraising Manager (East) from children’s charity Barnardo’s.

Woodhouse Grove boarders began their week of fundraising with a Go Green non-uniform day, paying £2 each to wear their own clothes for the day.

Day 2 saw the children planting a fruit tree outside one of the Woodhouse Grove boarding houses, ably assisted by new Headmaster James Lockwood, who proved he wasn’t afraid to roll his sleeves up and get his hands dirty. The fruit tree will be part of the Boarding Schools Association’s National Boarding Orchard – an initiative to create the biggest orchard in the world, with trees being planted by schools across the globe.

Next, the Woodhouse Grove boarders buried a Jubilee Time Capsule to celebrate the world of boarding in 2016. It will be dug up and opened in 2041, the 75th Anniversary of the BSA, by future Grove Boarders – who may be surprised to find out what life as a 2016 Woodhouse Grove Boarder was like!
As a fun way to end the Golden Jubilee National Boarding Week, Boarders invited day pupil friends to a weekend camping trip. Toasting marshmallows together seemed a fitting end to a week that celebrated the boarding community at Woodhouse Grove.

James Lockwood, Headmaster said,

“Woodhouse Grove was founded as a boarding school in 1812 and, while the majority of our students are now day pupils, our boarding community continues to thrive and brings a real sense of community to the school. The Boarders have done a tremendous job this week, raising money for Barnardo’s and their team spirit, enthusiasm and energy for this cause are indicative of what Woodhouse Grove is all about. I’m not sure how impressed they were with my tree planting skills though!”