GIRL power at a Harpenden prep school has helped raise thousands of pounds for a children’s charity.

All 165 pupils at St Hilda’s all-girls school on Douglas Road took part in a sponsored walk around the playing fields and thanks to the generosity of parents and friends, the school raised over �4,000 for NSPCC and ChildLine.

NSPCC and ChildLine Schools Organiser for Herts Sarah Lambley held an assembly at St Hilda’s last month to spread the word about her charity and inspire the pupils to fundraise themselves. Head teacher Carolyn Godlee said Sarah’s motivating speech got the ball rolling for some serious fundraising.

“Every girl from nursery upwards wanted to do their bit after Sarah’s super assembly, and choosing a sponsored walk made it easy for all our pupils, no matter what age, to take part. I was impressed by their enthusiasm and am very proud of such an achievement.”

St Hilda’s, which also recently donated much-needed funds to its sister school in Uganda, is one of seven schools across the St Albans district which has held fundraising events for NSPCC. Sarah said that between them all, a grand total of �20,000 has been raised over the past six months, including �3,000 from Grove Junior School in Harpenden, which completed a sponsored maths challenge for the cause.