Pupils from a Shefford school have been recognised with a national award from children’s charity the NSPCC after they raised more than £28,000 for it over the past decade.

The Comet: Robert Bloomfield Year 6 students with NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless.Robert Bloomfield Year 6 students with NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless. (Image: CPG Photography)

A judging panel including Dame Esther Rantzen named the Robert Bloomfield Academy as School of the Year for England at the Childhood Champion awards in London.

Year 6 students at the school have chosen the NSPCC as their year charity for the past 10 years, and held cake sales, raffles and more to raise money and awareness – and three of them represented their peers at the awards along with

the assistant head of year Kathryn Lee.

Year 6 student Aaron Smith sold raffle tickets at the school for a teddy bear he bought. He said: “I feel this is a good cause as it helps children that are unhappy at home.”

Jessica Barnett, also in Year 6, said: “I think the NSPCC is a good charity that helps children have a much better life.”

The school has been supporting the NSPCC since 1989, and has among other things made artwork for ChildLine’s 25th anniversary.

NSPCC schools fundraising organiser Fiona Westwood said in her nomination statement for Robert Bloomfield: “The school has never failed to help the NSPCC when we have had requests from other NSPCC departments for children to take part in additional activities.

“Their commitment to the nurturing of the pupils at Robert Bloomfield Academy, both academically and emotionally, has been truly inspiring to me over the years.

“I feel very proud and privileged

to work with such an amazing school.”

The total raised by the school for the NSPCC since 2006 is £28,680.34.