Around £10,000 is expected to be raised after a “packed” Christmas fair at an independent girls’ school near Regent’s Park.

Francis Holland School (FHS) in Ivor Place held its annual festive event on Saturday (December 9).

Aaron Taylor, chair of the school's parents’ association, said that there was a “great buzz” throughout the day, and that the tombola was overrun by “crowds of girls searching for a bargain”.

Other offerings at the event included a bungee run, fairground stalls, beauty bar, Christmas café, T-shirt design stall and a raffle.

It is anticipated that the fair will have raised around £10,000 for two partner charities – Swiss Cottage School and Rainbow Centre, Sri Lanka.

Donations from FHS help support after-school clubs and school trips at Swiss Cottage School.

The Rainbow Centre provides education and welfare support to children living in extreme poverty in south west Sri Lanka.

FHS recently donated a minibus to the school and provided meals for all children.

Mr Taylor said: “Balloons hanging at the entrance gates, festive decorations throughout the school, the Christmas Café ready for action and the numerous stall holders excited for business - the 2023 Christmas Fair was here!

“As ever, the FHS community did not let us down – once the doors opened, the hall, library, café, classrooms, gym and corridors were packed with girls, parents and visitors, all enjoying everything that the Christmas fair had to offer.

"There was a great buzz throughout, fabulous vendors, an amazing raffle and the wildly popular Tombola which could hardly cope with the crowds of girls searching for a bargain!”

The Christmas fair was one of many charitable events hosted by the school in recent months. 

In October this year, FHS raised nearly £26,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital through its annual sponsored walk. 

The school says that "many more major" charitable initiatives are in the pipeline for the coming year.