AN impressive amount of money has been raised by a Poole school in aid of the special pool fund at another.

The Sparkle Appeal, backed by the Daily Echo, is raising money for a much needed hydrotherapy pool and therapy centre at Livability’s Victoria Education and Sports College in Branksome Park.

With work due to start at the end of July, the college was delighted to receive a boost from the Bournemouth Collegiate School. Parents from the prep school at Parkstone, which has close links with the college, and the senior collegiate school at Southbourne, joined together for the inaugural ball at Compton Acres in January.

As well as raising a magnificent £4,372 from an auction and a silent auction – and handing over a £500 donation – they also raised £1,300 for the senior school’s adopted school in Nepal.

Head boy and girl Ryan Griffiths and Florence Bates and their deputies Oliver Goulden and Annabelle Le Conte, all 11, were among those who presented the funds to the college’s vice-principal Simon Brown.

“It was fantastic,” said Jane Kilpatrick, school governor and member of the ball committee.

“Compton Acres is a beautiful setting and we had 180 people there.”

Their generosity in bidding for a range of coveted auction lots was appreciated by the college, which still has a fair amount of fundraising to do.

Vice-principal Sue Stratis said: “We are very grateful for whatever people want to give us.

“A lot of groups like to buy something specific and that’s great too. It’s hard to come by.”

The old pool is more than 30-years-old and the whole heating plant room needs replacing. Phase two, a therapy centre on the existing swimming pool site needs another £1.2m.