Headteacher Malcolm Irons will take to the catwalk next week to help raise money to send Devizes School sixth formers on an expedition to Kenya.

The group of 16 students and their parents is trying to raise the £4,000-a-head cost of travelling to a rural village in Kenya, through Camps International, to help build homes, teach in schools and work on conservation projects.

They will also be able to go sightseeing and intend to climb Mount Kenya, the country’s second highest peak.

In April last year they decided to hold a series of fundraising events, the latest of which is a fashion show in the school hall on Thursday, March 13, at 7.30pm.

Parent Kathy Davis said: “So far we have raised £6,000 but we hope to raise close to £10,000 before the students go in July this year.”

The fashion show is the biggest single event so far and is being organised by student Nicole Pfeil and her mother Lorraine. They have secured the cooperation of six fashion shops in the town – New Look, Spirit, Mistral, Cielo Blu, The Wardrobe Devizes and Upper Cut Clothing. Staff from the stores will model the clothes along with students and teachers.

But the group’s greatest coup was in persuading Mr Irons to take to the catwalk as a model.

He said: “I’m pleased to be able to support them but I was shocked to be asked to model.

“But, thinking about it, seeing the head on stage and joining in the fun would probably sell more tickets.”

Mr Irons is not the school staff member joining in. Teachers Helen Taylor, Hayley Lacey and Kate Hughes are taking part.

Tickets for the event are available from the school or by emailing lorraine.pfeil@live.co.uk