A SCHOOL is celebrating its 120th anniversary by collecting more than 5,000 pencils to help impoverished children in South Africa.
Anna Evans, head of Harvington School, in Castlebar Road, Ealing, said she wanted her pupils to under-stand the meaning of giving.
She said: "This is a wonderful initiative by our pupils. Although we collect money for charity, this is a more tangible way for them to visualise the results of their generosity.
"It teaches them not to take things for granted and we are proud of them for responding to the needs of children across the world."
The pencils were delivered to schools in Soweto and the Transkei after Harvington pupils heard the children there had very few pencils.
Some families can afford only one pencil for siblings to take to school on different days, and many have to write outside in the sand
using their fingers.
Harvington, which has also twinned with a school in the Transkei, is the oldest girls' school founded and established in Ealing.
While housed in three Victorian buildings, it is keeping up with the times by investing in interactive white boards in each class in the junior school.
There is also IT maths support, backed by chairman of governors Prof Alan Gillett, so parents can work with their children to monitor their progress via the internet.
