A deputy head teacher and avid runner organised a Mini London Marathon at a Monmouthshire Primary school.

Anna Maguire, Deputy Headteacher at Trellech Primary School, has a strong passion for encouraging children to be active and to develop a lifelong love of physical activity and at the end of April, turned the school grounds into a celebration of fitness, determination and teamwork last week.

Anna told the Beacon: “The event was far more than just a run – it was a fantastic whole‑school experience that promoted healthy lifestyles, perseverance and a sense of community. Children encouraged one another every step of the way, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship and a real determination to keep going, even when it became challenging.”

Anna is also proud to be part of the UK Daily Mile Steering Group, where her role focuses on the strategic vision of the Daily Mile in schools, supporting its long‑term development and helping to lead new initiatives such as the Daily Mile Ambassador programme.

She was awarded the UK Daily Mile Staff Champion in 2025, reflecting her commitment to promoting health and wellbeing across school communities.

“After running the London Marathon last year, I went on to organise the Mini London Marathon at my previous school and was determined to bring this authentic and inspiring experience to Trellech,” she added.

The event was carefully planned in partnership with Year 6 pupil voice groups, with the whole school taking part in a two‑mile run around the school’s Daily Mile track. In the lead‑up, pupils were engaged in a wide range of curriculum experiences linked to the London Marathon, including fact‑files, research activities and medal designs. On the day, pupil ambassadors took on a range of leadership roles, including marshals, hydration and safety teams, water spray stations, commentators, photographers and motivators running alongside younger pupils.

The school choir performed ‘ count on me’ during the event and children played the drums, harp, guitar, and p buzz!

“Our PTFA generously donated and prepared fresh fruit so every child could refuel after completing the two‑mile run. Each class was allocated a time slot and children were organised into waves, mirroring the structure of the London Marathon to create an authentic and inclusive experience,” she added.

“It was incredibly special to see children encouraging one another and the whole school community coming together — it was never about winning, but about shared goals, perseverance and achievement. Through this work, we are proud to be working towards putting Trellech Primary School on the map as a case‑study school within Monmouthshire for the Daily Mile and whole‑school running events, with the aim of welcoming other schools to visit, share good practice and become inspired.”

They were lucky enough to have a visit from Jack Harris, Community and Sports Development Officer who said: “I don’t know any other school offering this type of provision to their pupils — you should be really chuffed with the work you are doing and the experiences it is providing for your pupils.”