GOVERNORS, pupils and staff of Skipton Girls' High School have launched an ambitious drive to raise £500,000 towards a new state-of-the-art £1.7 million learning centre.

The school has been given £1 million by the Department of Education for the Centre for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while governors have pledged £200,000.

But the school now has to raise half-a-million pounds to complete the project to the very best specifications and is asking for help from parents, local companies and the wider community.

Headteacher Jenn Plews said: "Our new Stem Centre will transform the learning and aspirations of our students and the wider community, now and into the future.

"As a nationally recognised Engineering Academy, we never stand still and are always working hard to challenge gender stereotypes through high quality teaching and learning. We passionately believe that it is our role to open doors for our young women and provide them with diverse and unique experiences in readiness for life beyond school.

"We are delighted to have secured the opportunity to build an innovative learning environment that will provide access to leading edge facilities."

"We also realise that we have a responsibility to our local communities, and actively collaborate with and support schools, both locally and nationally, and work alongside a range of partners from industry, commerce and the wider educational sector to share our teaching and learning."

Work on the centre, which will provide 'leading edge' laboratories and classrooms, is set to start shortly and is expected to be completed by autumn next year. As well as as asking for donations, the school is organising a programme of fundraisers - Christmas fairs, quiz nights and other events.

The school's finance director John Barker said everyone was completely committed to taking the opportunity that the project presented.

"This is a wonderful chance to to get a state-of-the-facility, both for the aspirations of our students and the Skipton community, so we are definitely going at it 'full gas'!"

Anyone who wishes to help can contact John Barker on 01756 707621, email barkerj@sghs.org.uk or bursar Joanne Busfield on 01756 70760, email busfieldj@sghs.org.uk