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swindonlink.com • May 2012 15
Oakhurst wins Britain’s virtual bike race by peddling the most

Three North Swindon primary schools were placed in the UKs top twenty in the annual national Big Pedal event, supported by cycling char-
ity Sustrans and the government’s Bikeability scheme. Oakhurst Primary School won 8 out of 15 stages to scoop the overall winner’s prize
in their category.

Some of the Big Pedal entrants at Oakhurst. Photo: Danielle Forsyth
The Big Pedal took place between Oakhurst clocking up an impressive families out and about. book The Boy who Biked the World
5 and 23 March and encouraged 68 hours, 9 minutes and 15 seconds “One of the initiatives to get by Alastair Humphreys. As overall
more than 890,000 cycle trips to to complete 15 stages of an average everyone to support our Big Pedal winners the pupils and staff are now
school nationwide, as pupils, staff 153 miles each. entry was a Saturday bike ride at looking forwards to a visit from the
and parents competed to make Also in the large primary schools Lydiard Park, followed by a game UK’s number one mountain bike
the fastest time on a virtual ‘Tour category, Orchid Vale Primary of football and cricket. I cycled stunt display team MAD.
d’Angleterre’ from Land’s End to came in tenth place with 76 hours, round talking to parents. One of the Headteacher Dale Burr said:
John O’Groats. 27 minutes and 44 minutes, while mums had bought a bike especially “There was huge support from the
According to the Big Pedal web- Haydonleigh came 18th with 79 to take part; when I spoke to her on children and parents. Throughout
site, a special mathematical formula hours, 3 minutes and 52 seconds. the following Monday she was so the project over 90 per cent of every
converts the number of cycle and Explaining the reasons for tak- excited because they’d also gone out class arrived by bike or scooter.
scooter journeys into watts, which ing part, Oakhurst teacher and Big on the Sunday as a family as well.” It’s also been fantastic for teaching
then generates the time taken over Pedal coordinator Liz Horrobin During the virtual tour Oakhurst Britain’s geography and learning
a certain distance. The more jour- said: “It’s our effort to try and clear also won a number of stage prizes about the area the cycle ride has
neys, the more watts, the greater the the cars off the road before and after including two Home Nation BMX passed through.”
speed, the quicker the time, with school and get the children and their bikes donated by Halfords and the www.thebigpedal.org.uk

A Quality Education for a Lifetime of Opportunities’
“We are a rural village school situated a few miles south-west of Swindon, founded in 1743 by Thomas Bennet and
taken over by the LEA about 100 years later. We now accommodate four mixed-age classes and a pre-school, and have
a large hall where hot meals are served, a conservatory area for individual or small group teaching, and a multi-sensory
learning library for parents and carers to access resources for learning at home.
This is what OFSTED said about us in February 2012:

‘A good school where pupils achieve well. The school is friendly and welcoming, with a strong ethos that
encourages the excellent development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding……The
school promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development outstandingly well.’
‘Pupils’ behaviour is excellent and this contributes very well to their learning. Good-quality safeguarding
underpins the pupils’ sense of security and enjoyment of learning. Behaviour around the school is also exemplary.’
‘Teaching through the school is good with examples of outstanding practice in all classes. Very strong
cross-curricular links mean that pupils are enthused and motivated to learn……The topic-based curriculum
is good with outstanding cross-curricular provision.’
‘Excellent, well-planned support for disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs enables
these pupils to make good and often outstanding progress because of the clear identification of their needs
and the very careful and regular monitoring of their progress.’
‘Leaders and managers, including the governing body, have a clear focus on the right priorities to improve the
school further.’
Parent comment to OFSTED February 2012: ‘Amazing grounding, both educationally and emotionally.’

We look forward to welcoming you on a visit to our school. To make an appointment
please call Mrs E Floyd, Headteacher on 01793 731262.
Please find out more about us at: www.broadhintonschool.org

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