PUPILS at a Galashiels school are set to make a splash after securing a £1,000 donation from on of the UK’S biggest house builders.

Burgh Primary has been awarded the sum thanks to a donation from Persimmon Homes.

The school will put the cash towards meeting the costs of swimming lessons for pupils across 2023.

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Persimmon’s Community Champions programme was established in 2015 and has already donated more than £3 million to over 3,500 good causes across the UK.

Every month it gives away 64 donations of up to £1,000 each in areas it’s working in, including the Borders.

The donation was secured by Sharon McAuley, of the school’s parent council and last week she handed over the cheque to pupils.

Sharon McAuley said: ‘We are very grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous donation which will make a big difference to our school.

“Swimming is an important life skill and we want every child at Burgh to have the chance to learn how to do it.

“Since September the Parent Council has raised over £3,000 to support the Burgh and it’s a wonderful reflection of our community spirit and the warm welcoming nature of the school."

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Kirsty Hadden, Burgh Primary's head teacher, said: "This is a wonderful donation from the parent council and will be used to help subsidise the swimming lessons for our upper school.

“Here at Burgh we strive to create an environment where our pupils get the chance to do things outside the classroom, allowing them to develop fully and enjoy new experiences.

“This is exactly the sort of thing we seek to encourage and it’s great to have parents and local businesses going the extra mile to make things happen.”