Children run 100 miles for school’s centenary

PUPILS at St Mary’s School in Henley celebrated its centenary by running 100 miles for charity.

Between them, pupils from reception to Year 6 ran 100 miles round Harpsden cricket ground to fundraise for the NSPCC.

The children were joined by Year 5 form tutor and drama teacher Alice Brown, PE teachers Steve Downes and Stacey Gould, head of English Rosie Wilkinson and headteacher Stephen Blundell.

As voted by the pupils, Mrs Brown completed her laps on Wednesday last week while wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume, Mr Downes, an inflatable elephant costume, and Mr Blundell, a pig costume.

The children’s charity was suggested by Mrs Brown, who will run the London Marathon next year to raise money for the charity.

The children were sponsored to take part in the fun run by parents, and earned a star sticker for every lap they ran, which was then added to a sheet tracking their progress to 100. Mrs Brown said: “This is the first in a series of events leading up to our 100-year ball.

“It also ties in with me running the London Marathon for the NSPCC in April so it’s also fundraising for that as well as challenging the kids.

“The kids here love running and do a running club once a week so it’s a nice event to get every single year group and teachers together.”

Mrs Brown said the NSPCC is a charity that “resonates” with her as a teacher for its work making sure every child is safe and cared for.

She added: “We were very surprised that our lower school managed to run a lot further than we thought. Every single child from reception has run at least a mile so we’ve been very impressed with their running ability and their enthusiasm.”

Year 6 pupil Buddy Moore said: “We’re raising money today for the NSPCC and because St Mary’s has been running for a hundred years. It’s been fun, I play football so I quite like being outside and running around.”

Annabelle Bardsley, also in Year 6, said: “It was fun. I’m definitely pushing my limits, I think everyone is, but I’ve really enjoyed it and it’s for a good cause.”

She said her highlight has been achieving her goal of running one and a half miles: “I’m very happy about that”.

PE teacher Steve Downes said the children had been “brilliant”, adding that he was particularly impressed by the lower school running a total of 25 miles. He said the children seemed to be motivated by the challenge to run 100 miles and by running alongside their friends.

Mr Downes said: “[NSPCC] is for children and that’s what we’re here for. This about is supporting their wellbeing, mental health and getting themselves fit and enjoying the sport.”

Headteacher Mr Blundell said: “We pride ourselves on being a community – one big family. Everybody contributed to the 100 miles and everyone in the school has been contributing. It embodies St Mary’s and the culture of the school that everyone’s getting stuck in and celebrating a milestone year for the school.

“I don’t think there’s a school that produces happier children than us. With sporting excellence, academic excellence and very strong pastoral care, at the very core of [the school] is very happy children who can excel, be challenged, push themselves and be pushed. Ultimately, it’s all about them running into school everyday with a big smile on their face and going back home everyday with a big smile on their face.”

Admissions, communications and social media manager Catherine Yoxall said: “It’s a really nice excuse to get the whole school together doing something. We do a lot of sport as a school so they’re used to getting outside and running, and they’ve been really excited to support Mrs Brown.”

She added that marking the school’s centenary is important for celebrating its heritage and history.

The independent preparatory school was founded in 1925 by Miss Margaret E Bailey, daughter of the organist and choir master at St Mary’s Church – from which the school took its name.

Classes were initially held in Miss Bailey’s parents’ home in Bell Street, before the family bought its current building, The Tower, in St Andrew’s Road.

Miss Bailey remained proprietor and principal for more than 40 years until her retirement in 1967.