HEADTEACHER Andrew Roberts-Wray was first to test the waters of Sunninghill Preparatory School’s newly renovated outdoor swimming pool.

The pool has been closed for a year while funds were raised for a revamp of the facility and it is hoped the local community of Dorchester as well as the school will benefit from the upgrade.

The renovation includes a new boiler system, a paved area around the pool to make it safer for children, a new environmentally-friendly filter system and new covers.

The funding was achieved with the help of the school’s Parents, Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA), which raised an impressive £18,000 through a ball held in February.

The new heating system now means pupils will be able to enjoy the pool for more of the year.

The aim is also for people outside the school to benefit from the pool as the school hosts clubs for other children after school and during holidays. Sunninghill has also forged close links with other schools in and around the town through the Dorchester Area Schools Partnership.

Mayor of Dorchester Les Phillips and swimmers from the South Dorset Tornadoes club were at the official opening and Mr Roberts-Wray was the first to take the plunge.

He said: “It was lovely, very refreshing.

“We had a good morning and it was great to open the pool so we can offer it to the local schools and it’s also good for our children.

“It’s wonderful, it’s been a real team effort between the school and the PTFA which has been really working hard to raise the funds for it.

“I can speak from personal experience that it’s a lovely temperature and it’s going to be good for the school.

“We will also be running clubs after school and holiday clubs to allow lots more people to be able to come and use the pool.”

Mr Roberts-Wray said the renovated pool would help the school become a national centre for modern pentathlons and hold events in the school grounds.