WYLAM First School has been granted £5,000 for new laptops.

The money was raised for the school by the Wylam Parent, Teacher and Friend association.

When the new chairman of the PTFA, Steven Duckworth, asked what the school needed, there was no question.

Steven said: “The headteacher said ‘the first thing we need is some new laptops.’

“We managed to get them some Google Chrome laptops and reconditioned iPads for the preschoolers.”

Headteacher Stephanie Gibbon felt the development of the children was being hampered by a lack of quality IT equipment.

Mrs Gibbon said: “Like everyone in this time of austerity, we’ve had funding difficulties.

“We had eight laptops at the school for the whole IT curriculum for a school of 147 pupils.

“The ones we had didn’t work very well either.

“The new laptops from the PTFA mean that we will be able to deliver the curriculum. This makes all the difference.”

The money was raised by the PTFA through a series of events, including fetes and raffles.

The school and the PTFA already have their sights set on the next funding project.

“The school doesn’t have any musical instruments, so that’s the next step,” Steven added.

Mrs Gibbon continued: “Along with ICT, music funding has taken a big hit.

“The PTFA is looking to raise some more money so we can get some instruments.”

Despite its funding difficulties, Wylam First School has an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating, received in 2008.

The school has not been inspected since then due to the high standard it set, and its results have remained above the national average.