A local charity has donated £250,000 to the new Kenilworth School.

Head teacher Hayden Abbott met with trustees of the William Edwards Educational Charity this morning (December 7) to receive the funding which will pay for a modern learning resource centre at the new Glasshouse Lane school.

The charity, which provides funding to schools and families across the town, is the legacy of local surgeon William Edwards who donated the money from the sale of land in Kenilworth to support local education.

And his name will go above the new learning resource centre which will be named after the charity.

"Most children in Kenilworth will benefit from the charity. We have invested millions of pounds over the years in the fabric of schools, but also with the things that they do," charity chairman Cllr John Cooke said. 

"The with the new school, we were very keen to invest - this is the largest amount the charity has ever given to anybody in one go.

"Why we have done that is everybody in Kenilworth who goes to a state school will probably come to this school, so we think this will benefit everybody."

The school has already raised over £1 million from local businesses and organisations to enhance the facilities at the new Glasshouse Lane site.

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Work began on the project in May 2021 and is expected to be complete by June 2023 ready for the school to welcome students in for the start of term in September.

And speaking in receipt of today's cheque Mr Abbott said: "The donation the Edwards Charity has given us will go towards funding the learning resource centre which will give the students access to modern technology to improve opportunities for independent study and learning beyond the school day. It really is terrific.

"The Kenilworth community has always supported the school and the school is the hub of the town so it is really important to us that a local charity supports it. 

"It creates that long lasting link with the charity and legacy with time to come."