Housebuilder donates £1.5k to Bridgwater primary school

A primary school in Bawdrip is the latest winner of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions scheme.

Kingsmoor Primary School staff and pupils were handed the £1,500 cheque by the developer on a warm May lunch break, with local Somerset councillor Diogo Rodrigues in attendance.

The school recently received praise as government figures revealed it to be the best performing primary in Bridgwater, with 83% of pupils achieving their expected standard and 13% exceeding their targets in last summer’s SATs exams.

The school opened in 1995 and serves around 180 pupils from the communities of Bawdrip, Chedzoy, Bridgwater, and nearby villages.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley have one plot remaining at Westminster Walk in Kings Down, Bridgwater for £330,000. It also has a site in North Petherton – Chaucers Meadow – with two properties remaining for £349,995 and £339,995. All three are four-bed detached homes.

In January, the housebuilder secured a resolution to grant planning permission to construct 90 new homes on the final parcel of land at the Kings Down site, with the proposal including a local play area and financial contributions towards the local travel plan and other infrastructure improvements via the Community Infrastructure Levy.

The Bridgwater scheme has already delivered a number of significant local benefits, including a new school, open spaces, and a retail centre, which were provided as part of the plan for the 2,000 homes in the area.

The five-star developer donates £700,000 to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain each year. Recent local recipients include Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, Kingsdown Knights FC, and Bristol Childrens Charity.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley’s sales director, Carly Spear, said “we are delighted to be lending a helping hand to Kingsmoor Primary School through our Community Champions programme. When we heard about their fantastic SAT results, it just felt right that we gave them a donation, especially given that the homes we are building in Bridgwater may house future pupils of the school.

“We wish the pupils and staff all the best for the rest of the academic year and the summer holidays they are surely looking forward to!”

Mrs Joanne Warren – Headteacher of Kingsmoor Primary School – added “we are extremely grateful to Persimmon for their very kind donation. Resources across the school are paramount for our pupil’s education and having additional funds to enable us to replenish and top up essential sporting equipment is so important.

“When budgets are becoming increasingly tight, support from Persimmon is therefore an added bonus and as a school we ensure the money is put to good to use to support all our pupils to engage in a  happy, healthy lifestyle. Many thanks again.”

Cllr Diogo Rodrigues – Somerset Councillor for Bridgwater East & Bawdrip – commented “schools everywhere are in a bind at the moment, with many having to undertake fundraising efforts to maintain and enhance their offering to pupils. So, I was delighted to see a local developer like Persimmon doing this in my division and helping out the talented pupils and staff at Kingsmoor.

“It is important that businesses with a significant presence in the area can help out their local communities, so Persimmon’s efforts are appreciated.”