Gogar Primary School

The Vanessa Grant School occupies a site next to Gogar Primary School for 800-850 children. It caters for ages 5-11.

In recent years the widening gap between the facilities provided at the special needs school and those at Gogar primary school has become apparent. The appointment of a new head teacher, who is dedicated to improving the school, provided the impetus for the VGT to become involved in improving the facilities. This has largely been achieved through the generous support of Cheltenham College.

What was 8 rundown class rooms with single blackboard, no chairs and squalid latrines, has been transformed into a well-run primary school with ever increasing numbers of children that we have yet to provide a chair for. There is running water in a quadrangle of classrooms that includes a staff room and library.

To date the school consists of 15 classrooms all fully kitted out, an administration reception area, a staff room and a library. There is rainwater storage and two better latrines have been built.

What is planned for 2009

• Plan and carry out landscaping of quadrangle with Cheltenham College’s support for completion in July with group of students
• Raise funds for purchase of more desks as school numbers have increased to more than 800 children
• Complete water supply to connect pump and main storage tank to header tanks
• Line the big storage tank with plastic sheeting used for reservoirs to solve leaking problem