CHILDREN at a Halesowen primary school have scaled a mountainous challenge to raise money for charity – and one of their teachers is hitting the heights to match them.

Pupils at Lapal Primary School have walked the height of Mount Everest – via laps around their playground – to raise funds for a charity in Nepal called Classrooms In The Clouds.

Additionally, assistant headteacher Laura Atkinson is braving a skydive next March to raise further cash.

The charity works to build schools in the most remote parts of Nepal - and several schools across the Dudley borough are aiming to raise £30,000 for the cause with special initiatives.

Mrs Atkinson said: “As the world’s tallest mountain resides in Nepal, we challenged ourselves with the task of walking the height of Mount Everest (5.5 miles) in a week.

“We want our children to understand how lucky they are to have the right to an education and that they don’t have to complete a daily walk of one to two hours to get to school.”

The arrival of winter weather gave the Everest challenge a more realistic feel as the youngsters had to brave the elements on some of the days.

Mrs Atkinson added: “It’s gone really well bar the weather! That was a challenge for us but we have made sure they are all wrapped up and they have all been really enthusiastic.

“There have been no complaints, they have just got on with it and it’s great that they have all got on board, the staff too.

“From Reception up to Year 6, all children have taken part. We are particularly proud of the Reception children who have been putting on their raincoats and wellies.

“They have not been moaning, they have been singing songs – a different song for each lap – to keep them going and they have been brilliant.”

With the pupils having done their part, it is now Mrs Atkinson’s turn as the date of her skydive in the spring draws closer.

She added: “I wanted to do something big, something that would grab people’s attention. I saw an 84-year-old woman on TV who did it and I thought ‘I have to do it now!’

“The date has been booked and the children know about it so they are going to hold me to account!”

The school is also holding a Christmas raffle – with a host of prizes donated by Halesowen companies – to raise more money for the charity.