Pupils and staff at All Saints Marsh C of E Academy in Newton Abbot, part of the Learning Academy Partnership, were proud to take part in Living Streets Walk to School Week on 17th – 21st May.
Pupils were encouraged to walk, run, park and stride or walk and wheel to school. During the week, the children learnt the importance of regular daily exercise and why it is so important for children especially to walk to school. The children discussed the benefits of walking which included being happier, doing better in class because you arrive refreshed, fit and ready to learn, less congestion on the roads, reducing air pollution and cleaner air.
The school had a fantastic uptake and during the week they saw a 20% increase of pupils walking, scooting, riding or running to school! Whilst not everyone could participate, some children did extra laps of the playing field after school and walked further over the weekends. Well done to all those who took part. We hope that this will form part of your weekly routine.
Mrs Webber has set herself a personal challenge to run to school every day from Chudleigh which is 6 miles! A keen runner, Mrs Webber has entered the Torbay half marathon in September in aid of the Stanley Beau Foundation https://stanleybeaufoundation.org/ and thought this would be a great opportunity to raise the importance and benefits of regular exercise and support the Stanley Beau Foundation. The Foundation supports children with life limiting illness and their families by providing holidays, short breaks and days out as well as emotional and practical support. If you would like to donate or find out more about the Foundation please visit https://www.justgiving.com/stanleybeaufdn
Mrs Webber said: ‘I have really enjoyed my early morning runs to school. I have had to be super organised in the mornings and I have actually arrived earlier than when I drive! A Year 3 pupil told me that I had inspired her to run to school in the mornings, which has made my day. This is all great training form my half marathon in September where I shall be supporting the Stanley Beau Foundation’.
Mrs Edwards said: ‘Now more than ever we know how important it is for our children to be active and physically fit. As well as encouraging fitness, the walk to school can be a perfect time for families to chat about the day ahead and have some time together, leaving a little earlier does help with having a calm start to the day that puts children in the perfect frame of mind for learning. We hope the Walk to School Week will introduce a different routine that families will continue with. We are very proud of Mrs Webber’s perseverance over the week to run to school each day and as well as setting a wonderful example to our children about setting yourself a challenge and achieving it she has raised awareness of a charity that is very close to our heart at All Saints Marsh.
The Learning Academy Partnership provides a first-class education to its pupils across the South West, and has done so since it was founded almost 10 years ago. The Trust is rated the best Multi Academy Trust in the country for the performance of disadvantaged children and in the Top 10 Trusts nationally for the progress that children make.
