REDNOCK School's sixth form showed their dedication to charity by throwing a Christmas fair that raised a grand total of £434.56.

All of the money raised will be divided between two charities: the Brittle Bone Society and Meningitis Now. This is of particular significance to sixth form student Lydia Stephenson who survived Meningitis after contracting it at the age of two.

“It means a lot to me because it helps to show my appreciation to the charity following 15 years of support given to my family after contracting the disease at a young age,” Lydia explained.

The Christmas fair itself was a great success not just because of the amount raised but because of the sheer dedication and creativity of the sixth form students.

It was first introduced in 2008 as an enterprise activity which was integrated into life skills lessons.

It encouraged teamwork, creativity and the objective was always to raise money for a chosen charity.

It then turned into what is now known as the annual Christmas fair and in the years that it has been running it has raised over £2,800.

Prizes are awarded to tutor groups for creativity which encourages some interesting ideas. The staff have little control over what comes out at the end of it all.

Sixth form tutor Ms Hobdell said: “You’ve got to allow some chaos for creativity and the less control there is the better.”

When asked what she thinks makes a good stall she added: “Something different and original that doesn’t necessarily raise the most money but attracts the lower school”.

Stalls at the fayre included Santa’s Grotto, penguin bowling, chocolate fountains, Friji milkshakes, various cakes and sweets and even a pie-the-assistant-head-in-the-face game.

They were run entirely by the students themselves.