ILKLEY Grammar School has launched a new school fund with the hope of raising £75,000 before the end of the academic year.

It is hoped that that voluntary contribution scheme will attract donations from parents, carers and the wider community. The money will be used to help the school maintain its broad educational provision, in light of a very challenging educational financial climate.

Head teacher Helen Williams said the school had set a target of £75,000 for this academic year, and hoped that through the generosity of the Ilkley community, it will achieve this goal.

She said the scheme was entirely voluntary, but the school very much hoped that many families and members of the Ilkley community, including local businesses and those who have been involved with the school over its long history, would choose to contribute a donation, however large or small.

Ms Williams said: "You may be increasingly aware through the national media that many schools are struggling to be able to maintain their existing educational provision in the current difficult financial climate, and IGS is no exception.

"We are working to raise funds in partnership with the PTA in order to protect our students’ educational experiences and allow us to continue to thrive. Our aim is that IGS will remain the exceptional school that it is at the heart of our community.

"It is our ambition to raise £100,000 annually through a combination of strategies including school events, sponsorship, match funding and voluntary donations.

“We are already very lucky with the positive support that IGS receives from our local community and are hopeful that this appeal will be no different. We are very proud to provide our students with a broad and exceptional educational experience at IGS, and hope that by raising money through our new school fund we will be able to continue to do just that. Although, as recently reported in the local press, we may now receive capital funding from BMDC to be able to expand over the next few years, these funds are not accessible by the school to help support our ongoing provision.

If anyone would like to make a donation, however large or small, or wants any further information, visit the ‘School Fund’ section of IGS’s website at www.ilkleygrammarschool.com/igs_fund/

* Bradford Council's Executive Committee this week approved an investment of £4.7million to allow Ilkley Grammar School to cope with rising demand for secondary school places in the Wharfe Valley. Forecasts show IGS could have a shortfall of 118 places by 2020.

The capital investment will allow the school's existing site to be redesigned, expanded and improved to accommodate an increase in its intake of students from 261 to 300 a year from September 2018. The school currently has capacity for 1,558 pupils, including its sixth form provision.