A crowdfunding effort for an outdoor shelter at the Blue School has already raised over £10,000.

The Blue School, the largest school in the county, with a roll of 1,800 students, is currently grappling with a severe space crunch due to structural problems in the Kennion Building.

The discovery of the structural issues, which rendered 20 classrooms, halls, social spaces, and cafes unusable, has significantly strained the school's facilities.

The urgency of the situation has been compounded by the need to homeschool students and squeeze the remaining ones into the smaller Milton building on site.

The planned outdoor shelter, initially a much-needed addition, has now become a necessity. However, the school's financial resources are stretched thin, as all available funds are being redirected to address the structural issues of the Kennion Building.

Recognising the urgent need for additional covered space, the Blue School community - a mix of current families, alumni, and local residents - has rallied together to support the fundraising initiative.

Their efforts aim to bridge the shortfall for the construction of a much-needed outdoor covered area, with a total requirement of £40,000.

The campaign's leap forward was significantly bolstered by a generous donation from Glastonbury Festivals, propelling the fundraiser past the halfway mark. The remaining £30,000 is critical for the project, which the school hopes to complete during the February half term, emphasising the urgency of the situation.

The pressing need for the shelter stems from the necessity to accommodate students who are currently being homeschooled or cramped into the smaller Milton building on site. With the school's finances currently tied up in rectifying the Kennion Building's issues, the outdoor shelter project relies heavily on community contributions.

The Blue School, deeply embedded in the fabric of the local community, has witnessed an outpouring of support, reflecting the strong bonds and collective responsibility felt by residents. The school is encouraging everyone to contribute whatever they can to this cause, emphasizing that every contribution, no matter the size, is a step towards achieving their goal.

Rachel Sherman, who helped organise the fundraiser said: "Mark Woodlock, the headteacher, staff and students have been through so much since the beginning of Covid and now have their school being so badly affected. It would be really wonderful if we can do this to show them how much we support them and our children."