Leg waxing, talent contests, pyjamas and selling lots of and lots of cakes were just some of the ways students helped raise thousands for Children in Need.

Thorough out last week fund raising activities such as non-uniform days and even dodge ball competitions were held for children’s charities.

Oaks Park High School, Oaks Lane, Newbury Park raised more than �3,000 with quizzes, teachers dressing up as pupils and penny jar challenges.

Salise Caluda, humanities teacher, said: “The sixth form really pushed it this year. I think it’s amazing and just shows when students put their mind to something how much they can achieve. We have never raised that much before - the prefect team put so much effort into it.”

Year 13 head Tom Edworthy and the head boy both got their legs waxed for charity and teachers took part in the Oaks Park Staff Got Talent show.

Miss Caluda said the money raised took the total raised by the school in the past 10 years to more than �50,000.

“We’ve still got money to count, so far it’s �3140,” she said.

At Gearies Infant School, Waremead Road, Gants Hill children made cakes and held a special assembly with singing and dancing – all done in their pyjamas.

Laura Smith, a teacher at the school, said: “It went really well. We all came to school in our pyjamas and brought in a pound each. We had baking through the day and then the children sold what they had made to parents in a bake sale after school.”

All their efforts raised more than �570 but they still have more money coming in.

Laura said: “The staff brought what they had baked as well and we all did the Pudsey Bear jump up and dance routine from CBeebies. It was a really fun day.”

Money donated to Children in Need is distributed in the form of grants to hundreds of organisations in the UK which work to help children.

Everyone was sporting spiffing spots at Highlands Primary School, Highlands Gardens, Ilford where a non-uniform day meant everyone came to school in spotty clothes.

The money will be split between Children in Need and UNICEF.

Year 4 student and school council member Karunveer Brar, eight, said: “We wore spotty clothes and raised money for charities to help children to have better lives. UNICEF and Children in Need will help raise money to care for everybody, to give clean water, shelter and food.”

Even the teachers got into the spirit at Christchurch School, Wellesley Road, Ilford on Friday and had their own children’s party with all their favourite childhood food.

Kevin Baskill, headteacher, said: “It’s nice that the staff got so involved and this typified their commitment to everything that’s goes on at the school.”

See more photos of the schools’ fundraising fun in Thursday’s Recorder.