Staff, students and parents at Cotham School are stepping up their campaign to raise funds to improve the school's main hall.

A public meeting is to be held at the school this evening to gather ideas from the community on fund-raising projects.

Anna Millett, community arts co-ordinator at the school, said: "So far £47,000 has been raised in money or pledges but we need another £30,000 to reach our target."

The money will be used to refurbish the school's main hall to bring it up to the same standards as the rest of the building, which is having a £19.8 million remodelling under the Government-funded Building Schools for the Future programme.

Every year thousands of people use the hall, which was built in the Thirties and is showing signs of wear and tear.

Apart from daily assemblies, parents' evenings, concerts, plays, and events, the hall is also a focus for community meetings and events.

Modernisation of the hall will include providing raked foldaway seating, the purchase and installation of new stage lighting and remodelling of the stage itself to make it suitable for a variety of productions.

The school said it is delighted with the £17,000 which has been raised by individual donors, businesses and the school's enrichment fund, supported by parents and carers. The meeting begins at 7pm and will be held in the main hall in Cotham Lawn Road.