Taylor Wimpey East Anglia has donated £7,000 towards the purchase of a baby grand piano at Cambourne Village College, located near its West Cambourne development. The contribution marks another step in the ongoing partnership between the developer and the school, and represents a long-term investment in music education and community life in Cambridgeshire.
Cambourne Village College, part of the CAM Academy Trust, has welcomed the new instrument as a valuable resource for students across all year groups. The piano will not only enrich the school’s music department but also support the college’s broader mission as a community hub. Village colleges in Cambridgeshire have always been designed to serve both students and local residents, following the vision of educational pioneer Henry Morris, who described the village college as “the community centre of the neighbourhood”.
To celebrate the new addition, Cambourne Village College is launching an annual Taylor Wimpey Piano Competition. The contest will be open to all abilities, offering every student the chance to showcase their skills and musical development. The piano will make its public debut at the school’s GCSE music showcase in late October 2025, when Year 11 pupils will perform their solo coursework pieces to a live audience. It will also feature prominently in other events throughout the year, including the first rounds of the Taylor Wimpey Piano Competition in December and January, as well as the popular Sixth Form “Carols around the Piano”.
Lynn Mayes, Principal at Cambourne Village College, said: “We are delighted to have such a beautiful grand piano in our school. It’s a resource that will inspire pupils across all year groups and provide opportunities that we simply couldn’t have offered without Taylor Wimpey’s support. Already, it has become a hub for creativity and performance, and we are excited to see how our pupils will continue to benefit from it.”
Claire Heald, CEO of the CAM Academy Trust, added: “Partnerships like this are transformational for our schools. Taylor Wimpey’s generosity demonstrates a shared commitment to raising aspirations and providing extraordinary opportunities for young people. As our Trust continues to develop, investments in facilities and resources like this piano make a lasting impact on pupils, staff, and the wider community.”
For Taylor Wimpey East Anglia, the project reflects its ongoing commitment to supporting the local communities where it builds. Olivia Peters, Head of Sales at Taylor Wimpey East Anglia, said: “Giving back to the community is so important to us at Taylor Wimpey. Partnerships with schools are vital to help strengthen children’s education, whilst encouraging them to pursue other opportunities, such as music. We hope this donation will benefit all students and teachers for years to come, and we can’t wait to see the children’s progress at the Taylor Wimpey Piano Competition.”
Cambourne Village College opened in 2013 as the first secondary school in Cambourne and now accommodates around 1,250 pupils and 100 staff. The college continues the proud Cambridgeshire tradition of village colleges, offering both education and community facilities in one place. These schools have long been central to the life of their towns and villages, promoting lifelong learning and social inclusion. Cambourne Village College was rated “outstanding” by Ofsted in 2015 and has become an integral part of the growing Cambourne community.
Taylor Wimpey East Anglia is closely connected to the area, with two developments currently in Cambourne: Burghley Green and Chivers Rise at West Cambourne. Situated just nine miles from Cambridge, West Cambourne offers a convenient location with easy access to amenities and strong transport links. St Neots station is just 16 minutes away, providing fast connections to London King’s Cross in 44 minutes.
The £7,000 donation from Taylor Wimpey East Anglia has already begun to make a difference, with the baby grand piano acting as a new centrepiece for music, creativity, and community engagement at Cambourne Village College. As the partnership grows and the Taylor Wimpey Piano Competition takes shape, the instrument will continue to inspire the next generation of musicians and strengthen the bond between the college and its community.
