A small school with fewer than 60 pupils has raised £4,000 to ensure children have full access to technology.

Crosscanonby St John’s School in Crosby has bought 16 iPads for pupils to use in their lessons, as well as a storage and charging cabinet.

The pupils themselves launched a fundraising drive when they did a sponsored walk which earned them £1,600.

The parent teacher association then got involved raising money through a shopping trip to the Metrocentre at Gateshead and a concert by the All Saints’ Community Rock Choir, led by Brian Melville who teaches music at the school.

The total was further boosted by support from businesses such as Iggesund Paperboard and a £1,500 grant from Cumbria County Council’s Allerdale local vommunity fund, organised by Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes.

Headteacher Chris Steele said the iPads could provide over 75,000 educational applications.

He added: “Pupils can also use the technology to gain access to materials that make learning more interactive, engaging and memorable.

“The iPads allow all learners, whatever their level, access to engaging material that will help them to progress. The earlier they become proficient users of such technology, the better.”

He thanked all those who had helped with the fundraising.