ROWDEFORD School near Devizes is celebrating after getting planning permission for an outdoor learning centre.

Headteacher Ingrid Sidmouth said: “It is massively exciting for us. It will benefit all of our pupils plus another 30 or so children from other mainstream secondary schools in the area.”

The school on the outskirts of Rowde now needs to raise about £250,000 to restore an old barn, which was once part of the school’s farm, and to put up a new building to make an outdoor teaching area where subjects such as horticulture and forestry can be taught.

Mrs Sidmouth said: “We already have a number of animals including our pig Treacle and piglets which are very popular and we teach a number of outdoor subjects but the new centre will allow us to expand and do more.

“Our children often have communication problems and this sort of learning is very important to them.”

She hopes the new centre will be finished within the next two or three years.

Leading the fundraising effort will be Johnny Grew, who is chairman of the Rowdeford Charity Trust, which has furniture designer Mark Wilkinson and his wife Cynthia as patrons.

It is hoped much of the money will come from grants, but local fundraising efforts will be staged throughout the year.

Trustee Maggie Moore led by example on Sunday by taking part in the Great North Run and raising £900 in sponsorship by completing the half marathon course.

Mrs Moore, 63, who lives in Cherhill, finished the run in two hours, 31 minutes, five seconds. She said: “The aim was just to finish and raise awareness and money for Rowdeford Charity.

“So far the fund is standing at £925 and people can still donate at justgiving. com/rowdefordcharity/Maggie-moore3.com “Apart from the fact I am going to lose two toenails I feel pretty good,” she said.

Planning permission was approved by Wiltshire Council last week.

Rowdeford School is a special needs school for children with complex needs and autism. It caters for 130 pupils.