PictureFOBS member Helen Barnard and Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation Trustee Ron Miller with some of the youngsters who will benefit from the improvements.

A village school near Leeds has moved a step closer to a new learning centre, thanks to a grant from the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

The Friends of Barwick School (FOBS) are fundraising to refurbish part of Barwick-in-Elmet C of E Primary School to create a new library and better IT facilities.

At present the library is in limited space in a corridor next to the existing IT lab which provides poor flexibility for use. Near to these is a resource room used for small groups.

FOBS plans to combine the three spaces to create an “agile” learning space, featuring an improved and updated library, more modern and flexible IT facilities and an area which can be used for both large and small groups of pupils.

The space will be available to other children in the parish, such as Beavers, Rainbows, Brownies and Cubs and Art for Barwick Children who use the school.

The project is expected to cost more than £32,000 and FOBS has already raised more than £6,000 through activities including a summer fair, Garforth Golf Club Gala and a Christmas Fair.

FOBS member Helen Barnard said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Foundation. This grant puts us well on the way to being able to transform the centre of the school and give the children new opportunities for learning.”

Foundation Trustee Ron Miller said: “Village schools can struggle to access funding for projects such as this which will make a huge difference to the school and we are delighted to be able to help.”