HASLEMERE Mayor Sahran Abeysundara launched Camelsdale Primary School’s appeal for public support to help win vital funding.

The school is hoping as many people as possible will back a key project to replace its much-needed but failing interactive whiteboards by voting for it in the Aviva Community Fund 2016.

Whiteboards are a vital teaching and learning tool and it will cost up to £21,500 to buy replacements for all seven classrooms.

Only the projects gaining with the most votes will make it to the Aviva, so Camelsdale is banking on local support.

Camelsdale is one of many schools and academies in West Sussex hard hit by budget cuts. West Sussex is one of the worst-funded local authorities in the country, receiving £40 million per year less than the national average – and £200 million less than some London boroughs.

The school’s parent teacher association is already raising funds to support the cost of a new kitchen and dining hall to meet the government’s requirement for it to provide hot meals, but cannot raise the addition £21,500 needed for new interactive whiteboards.

Headteacher Sarah Palmer said: “Camelsdale Primary is a wonderfully good school at the heart of our village, which provides incredible learning opportunities for our children. Our teachers and pupils deserve dependable, up-to-date equipment that enhances, not hinders, their learning journey.

• “Please help us to improve daily classroom activities and uphold our excellent standards by voting for us. The school needs more than 10,000 votes before November 18.”

To vote go to www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/voting/project/view/16-2850. For more information visit: www.camelsdale.w-sussex.sch.uk or see its Facebook page.