Head Teacher takes gunging challenge during summer fair at Maltby Manor Academy

Joanne Cliff left Maltby Manor Academy last Friday to move onto another school academy trust.

And when staff were talking around a suitable fundraising effort to take place at their end-of-term event Joanne put her hand up and offered to take a very messy centre stage.

“I was semi-nominated and part-volunteered,” she admitted.

“We’re raising money for the Wentworth Woodhouse Foundation as an academy trust and as I’m leaving at the end of term, we thought it would be nice for the children to have the chance to gunge me.”

Joanne admitted she had been nervous and excited before the gunge challenge while children had stopped her in the street during the previous week and told her: “We’re going to gunge you!”

But she added: “It’s all in the name of charity, so bring it on.

“Children are making a donation in return for gunging me.

“We’ve set a target of £500 minimum as part of the Maltby Learning Trust.”

The Wentworth Woodhouse Foundation puts on community projects at the mansion alongside its ongoing restoration.

Ms Cliff’s pupils enjoyed an early start to the holidays as the school undergoes the latest phase of a much-needed upgrade.

Teachers spent Friday clearing out the classrooms ahead of the work taking place over the summer holidays.

“It’s part of a four-year project with three still to go.” said the head.

“We’re having the boiler system and the pipework completely replaced.

“It’s starting in the Key Stage 1 building with all new lighting and heating so the building has to be emptied.

“Unfortunately we’ve had to cut short the school term so the staff could come in in their scruffs and packed boxes ready to be moved.”

Seven classrooms had to be totally emptied, said Ms Cliff, adding: “We have needed this for some time as we’ve had leaky pipes - the building is from the 1960s and we’ve had all sorts of pinhole leaks so it will be nice for the staff and children and more energy-efficient.”