A £75,000 appeal has been launched to raise money for a new state-of-the-art school STEM centre.

Hunter Hall School wants to build a bespoke facility for science, technology, engineering and maths at its base on the outskirts of Penrith.

Staff, governors, parents and pupils want to raise the funds and see building work start over the next two years.

More than £9,000 has already been banked through a series of events including bonfire night and parents baking and selling loaves of bread on Fridays.

Cumbria's only standalone prep school is located beside a working farm, where the classrooms were once barns and the nursery an old milking parlour.

Buildings have been modified and updated over last 25 years that the school has been on its current site.

An old classroom is to be transformed under the latest development plans.

Donna Vinsome, headteacher at Hunter Hall School, said: "Science is a key subject and one which is close to our hearts. Who doesn’t like an exciting experiment? Which child isn’t inquisitive to know how the heart works or why there are colours in the rainbow?

"Science is fascinating and using subject specific equipment in exciting spacious surroundings can only enhance STEM teaching at Hunter Hall and give this subject the priority it deserves."

STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is a key area on any school curriculum and important for future employability skills.

In 2014 the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reported that STEM skills are vital to the future UK economy.

Leaders at Hunter Hall School hope to open out the new facility to others to help inspire and educate future generations.

Mrs Vinsome continued: "As an independent school we cannot rely on government grants to help fund new buildings, or equipment.
"Everything we do and buy has to be funded by ourselves from a leaking roof down to the pencils.

"It is an exciting prospect to build this new facility and hopefully share it with the local community."

She added: "We would like to build on our links with schools in the area and offer them the use of our facilities – as schools we have much to learn from each other."

Support from local businesses and former pupils is also sought by the school to help it reach its target.

Donations can be made online at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/hunterhallsciencecentre.