A MALVERN school that was put in Ofsted's "serious weakness" category nearly three years ago is looking forward to a good start to 2006.

Governors at Malvern Parish CE Primary School are launching a sponsorship appeal to help fund a new outdoor area.

Letters will be sent out to local businesses in January asking for assistance.

The proposed "outdoor learning environment" is designed to include quiet and active areas, as well as zones for storytelling and other activities.

Already this year, the school has benefited from a new reception classroom and new toilets.

Head Lynn Gill, who came to the school in September 2004, said: "The PTA have already raised about £8,000 over the last two or three years, but now we want to reach out to local businesses.

"The PTA will continue to raise money for it, but we'd like to involve the wider community as well."

Malvern Parish had another Ofsted inspection in July 2005, when it was deemed a good school.

Simon Raitt, of the school's governors, said: "The school has been through a lot of challenges and has come out with flying colours. We're really pushing forward now and we want to keep up the momentum."

"We've probably missed two years of development and we want to not only catch up but do a lot more."

The governors will be writing to local businesses and residents inviting them to an open day, probably in February, to explain the new proposals and encourage community involvement.