Whilst Covid 19 has forced a number of grants to be suspended during this academic year, a number of organizations have worked tirelessly to support schools through existing or new grant-giving processes. Presdales has been successful in securing more than £140,000 of this grant funding, 97% of which has been spent on long-term capital investments.

Presdales’ sports provision has benefited significantly. Support from EdufundUK has enabled the purchase of new PE mats improving trampoline and gymnastic safety. Funding from Ware and Hertford Town Councils, the Tappenden Charity and Cllr Kaye assisted with the purchase of netball court floodlighting, the installation of which is now complete. The significant increase in court rental revenue already achieved will have far-reaching and long-term impacts across the whole school.

Further applications to the OSFF have also secured 100% funding for safer, socketed netball posts and new tennis nets and posts. The icing on the cake for the court refurbishment!

Football fever has not been limited to the Euros, as Presdales has seen an increase in its play in school. An application to the Football Foundation for funding for goals was successful but required further top-up funding. Through the Government’s Opening School Facilities Fund, Presdales was able to secure the necessary top-up funding, meaning we now have 100% funded: 11, 9, 7 and 5 a-side goals due for delivery within the next couple of weeks. Football is coming home to Presdales!

STEM has also seen considerable support. In December 2020 Presdales received notification of a successful bid to the Wolfson Foundation for funding to support the refurbishment of its two Chemistry classrooms. Requiring match funding, this is a significant project and within the past two weeks more good news was received: a STEM bid to EdufundUK Ltd had been successful in securing funds for fume cupboards within the classrooms and prep-room, supporting this project further. The support from EdufundUK in this and earlier this year for our Textile department is greatly appreciated.

Other STEM successes saw full funding from the Institute of Physics for a coordinated class set of electrical components improving the teaching and learning of electrical circuits for KS3 students. Also for KS3 learning, the Ogden Trust provided funding for a set of Solar Cars that were used this week for a Year 8 Enrichment Day. This exciting day will become an annual event and provide Science and Maths cross-curricular learning, as well as lots of fun and problem solving.

This has been a difficult year in so many ways but Presdales would like to thank all of the organizations that have been so generous in their support.