Combe Down Church of England Primary School is a school at the heart of the Combe Down community and we pride ourselves on being a happy and caring school, where the wellbeing of children and staff is at the forefront of all that we do. We are built on a wonderful multi-level site in the centre of an old mining village, and whilst this provides a wonderful setting for the school, it also brings with it many difficulties in making the site work for all.

Our school community has just suffered a devastating loss following the death of Vanessa Tilbury a long-standing and much loved and respected teacher, colleague and friend. Mrs Tilbury has been part of the Combe Down family for over 20 years, and died on the 14th April unexpectedly but peacefully. Mrs Tilbury was an enthusiastic, energetic and dedicated teacher and someone always keen to try new things. As the school community are coming to terms with the loss of Mrs Tilbury, we are keen to come together and put in place a number of lasting memorials that staff and children can be reminded of Mrs Tilbury for years to come. The first of those will be The Tilbury Trail, which forms part of this fundraising project.

What is our aim?

We are able to provide for the basic day to day needs of all pupils at Combe Down, allowing all to attend and join in with their classmates in all that they do. However, with wellbeing and accessibility as a high priority we are increasingly aware that the site does not fulfil everyones needs. Our project is a community project that we hope each and every family at Combe Down will be able to look back at in years to come and be proud to say they were involved. The key aim of the project is to make the outside space at Combe Down School a space that is accessible for all, including those with additional needs, in turn improving the wellbeing of all the children at the school and ensuring they can play in an inspiring and safe playground together.

We have already made an amazing start, raising over £4,000 from fundraising events including our Laps to Lapland Challenge to provide a much-needed upgrade to our Forest School area.

Two Tunnels Colourburst Run

When a staff member suggested a staff and parent 10km run to bring the school community together, and to improve fitness and wellbeing, with the support and enthusiasm of many of our school community, the ball started rolling and Legacy 2020 was born! An ambitious fundraising project: Legacy 2020 Accessibility, Wellbeing, Play.

Sadly, the events of 2020 put all these plans on the back burner.

As restrictions are now lifting, the Colourburst is back on with a new date, but just as much enthusiasm.

In addition to many staff and parents taking part in a 5km or 10km run on Sunday, 2nd May 2021, we now have over 100 children taking part in either a 500m or 2km Colour Burst Run on the same day.

What would we plan to do with the funds?

The Combe Down Primary School children have been involved in the plans for the development of the playground from day 1, and our wish list that follows is entirely driven by their ideas, desires and needs.

Phase 1 - £4,000 FUNDING NOW COMPLETE!! We are blessed with an abundance of trees around the site. Phase 1 of our project involves enhancing our already existing natural Forest School area, to ensure that not only do all children receive termly Forest School lessons, but they can utilise this area for free play on a daily basis. Our generous and hardworking PTA have already got the ball running with a donation to make a start on these improvements.

We would love to raise £8,000 for part 2 of our project - Phase 2 involves the upper playground, where the oldest children in our school spend most of their playtimes and outdoor learning opportunities. We are planning the addition of The Tilbury Trail, in memory of our much loved and recently lost teacher, Vanessa Tilbury. This will be an area of exciting and challenging woodland trim trail equipment. We would love to complete this phase over the summer, ready for the children in September.

Phase 3 - will be focussed on the unused potential of the area opposite the school hall in the lower playground. This will be aimed at children in the lower years and will be a visually enticing play structure giving opportunity to climb, slide and role play for all.

The children have plenty more ideas to follow for climbing walls, green spaces and outside classrooms, but the above would make an immeasurable difference to their daily lives at school.

This is an ambitious project and we have set an ambitious fundraising target; the more we raise the more of the playground we can transform for all children.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and read our Just Giving page, and for supporting our exciting project.