Banbury area primary school raises £750 for Katharine House Hospice with Santa Fun Run

The week started with almost every child back in school for the first time since half term, as finally there were no teachers or children having to isolate, and then on Thursday the whole school was able to join in a giant Santa Fun Run outside, raising £750 for Katherine House Hospice.

Matthew Ingall, the Bloxham Primary School headteacher, said: "There was a real buzz in school, a sense of thrill at being full of lively happy children with life back to normal.

"You could feel the atmosphere, the staff so happy to be back in class and the children really enjoying being back in routines, wanting to learn and have fun with their friends.

“We all suddenly realised why school felt different and special, and it really brought home to us just how much we had missed our routines, and what pleasure teaching and learning is for us all."

The school’s rural setting has really come into its own this year, with teachers able to take more classes outside and make the most of the school’s large playing fields. The fun run on Thursday was a great opportunity for the children to enjoy playing outside and in total they ran 285k to raise £750 for the local charity Katherine House.

Mr Ingall added: “As this is my last year at Bloxham Primary School before I hand over to Miss Horton next summer, these special moments have even more significance.

"I know we all feel very thankful for our health and our happy school and will really enjoy the last few days before breaking up for Christmas on the December 17."

The school recently announced its headteacher of 17 years, Matthew Ingall, would retire at the end of the current school. The school has appointed Lisa Horton to be its new headteacher from September 2021.

Mr Ingall was due to retire last year but, when recruitment was hampered by Covid-19 restrictions, he offered to stay for an additional year to help the school through the crisis.