At Ark Franklin, our playground is badly in need of updating. Climbing frames that children loved to play on have been removed and we would love to replace them, as well as create some new spaces for children to use. With limited and reducing budgets for schools year-on-year, we cannot afford to build these for children without fundraising from our community.

With the fundraising that we hope to get this year, we are looking to create two projects for children in the Key Stage 2 playground. We want to replace the climbing tower that was removed last year and replace it with a new, bigger and better climbing tower that will be fun and engaging, allowing a large number of children to benefit from healthy exercise and strength-building each and every day.

For the second project, we want to replicate the success of the “quiet area” in Key Stage 1 with a similar space for older children in Key Stage 2 – something very often requested by the School Council. We have designed a beautiful space to go near the shed in the corner of the playground with covered, multi-level seating so that those who would like to sit, chat, read or play calmly can have a suitable space to do so.

The overall cost for this project is £40,000 and we are well on the way with funds raised last year by the school, by last years Kensal Tri and by our wonderful PTA. Therefore, we would like to out-do last year’s target and aim to raise £15,000 in fundraising from this event to help us build these new facilities for the children.

To raise these funds, myself, some teachers teachers and some parents will be once again taking part in the Blenheim Palace triathlon event as part of the Kensal Tri team. This event has been instrumental in raising funds for the school in the past so please do show your support for the school and everyone from the community taking part by making a donation.

If you can help by donating, or even getting involved in the Kensal Tri yourself – or any other form of sponsored fundraising, please do give what you can.

Our amazing community has helped us so much in the past and we are so grateful for the support that we received. Thank-you very much.

Peter Watkins, Headteacher

See below some photos of the area we would like to refurbish and ideas for the 'quiet area':

(More photos are available in the gallery)