PUPILS and staff at Medstead Primary School welcomed X-Factor finalist Joe Waller to their Macmillan Coffee morning.
The event, on September 30, raised £300 for the charity.
A spokesman for the the school said Joe put on a "fantastic performance" during assembly and then officially cut the ribbon to open Year 1’s outdoor canopy, which enables the children to play outside in all weathers.
It has taken Friends of Medstead School (FOMS) a year to raise the £13,000 needed to build the canopy and fit blackout blinds to classroom windows. Fundraising events have included school discos, a secret Santa shopping experience for children to buy Christmas presents, making and selling personalised hoodies, and the school’s summer music festival – Medstock.
The Medstead Ball committee presented the school with a further cheque for £2,500, which will be put toward future projects.
Headteacher Jane Oborn said: “We are thrilled to have Joe Waller here today to officially open our Year 1 classroom canopy and can’t thank all the friends and families of FOMS enough for their truly marvellous fundraising efforts.
“£13,000 is an incredible sum to have raised and the canopy and the blinds will really assist in all our children’s learning and enjoyment. Our thanks also go to Medstead Ball Committee for their very generous sum of £2,500, which will also hugely benefit the school.”
FOMS chairman Tor Harris added: “On behalf of FOMS I would like to thank all the families and friends of Medstead school for supporting our fundraising efforts over the last year. It really is greatly appreciated and directly benefits all our children at the school.
“Going forward we are now going to be raising money to refurbish all the classrooms with new tables and chairs as well as putting money into further improving the outdoor play areas.”
Medstead School is set to host open days for new and prospective pupils and their parents, from 1.30pm-3pm on Tuesday, October 18; from 7pm-8pm on Thursday, November 10; and from 1.30pm-3pm on Tuesday, November 22.