STUDENTS with physical disabilities at a Chester school now have access to the full range of learning opportunities thanks to the generosity of two local charitable trusts.

When Christleton High School’s first wheelchair user enrolled in 2019, the design of the 1970s buildings in the older parts of the school made it impossible for him to access the first floor and join his classmates in any art or modern languages classes.

Alerted to the challenge, two of Chester’s leading charitable trusts donated the £25,000 to design and install a wheelchair lift linking ground and upper floors.

The project also included the provision of a physiotherapy and disabled toilet facility complete with a hoist and other specialist equipment.

Last week, representatives of both the Marjory Boddy Trust and the Ursula Keyes Trust – both named after prominent Chester philanthropists – were welcomed to the school by headteacher, Darran Jones, to formally commission the lift.

"We’re immensely grateful to both trusts for their on-going support and generosity," he said. "Whilst this important project was geared to the needs of a specific student, the lift is proving a tremendous asset for students and staff who are affected by temporary and permanent mobility issues."

Mr Jones added: “Perhaps even more importantly, the lift means that we are now in a position to deliver an unrestricted range of learning opportunities to future generations of students with a wide range of mobility challenges."

Marjory Boddy Trust Chair, Bill Benoy said: "We were keen to support Christleton High School’s commitment to ensuring that no student is deprived of learning opportunities as a result of any disability.

"We’re proud to have been involved in supporting the project."

Ursula Keyes trustee John Brimelow added: "This is a great example of a school investing in inclusion and equal opportunity which lie at the heart of The Ursula Keyes Trust values."