New school minibus helps pupils to win prizes

Cockfield Primary School’s young kit car racers scooped four prizes at an event at Croft Circuit last month.

Class five pupils, with help from engine manufacturing company Cummins, built a kit car, thanks to sponsorship from Woodland’s Edge Hotel.

Headteacher Nicky Wright said: “The children tried their hand at something new with resilience, positivity and teamwork.

“They cheered, they clapped, they coached, they encouraged, they faced their fears and they waited patiently. And… they won four awards.”

They won the category for greenest body work, came second overall, came second in the drag race and earned third place in the slalom race.

Ms Wright said: “Well, that was a special day.”

The trip was partly made possible thanks to a new school minibus.

Ms Wright applied to children’s charity Variety Club when she first arrived at the school.

She said: “We had to make a donation of about £18,000, but they paid the rest. It cost about £60,000 brand new.”

She and another member of staff had training to drive it and have made good use of the minibus since.

Ms Wright said: “The cost of transport is absolutely extortionate. I have just taken eight children to cricket at Raby Castle, that would have cost us £200.

“We will get every child out before we break up for the summer.

“We are going to Staindrop for a sports festival, through the sports partnership, but the cost there is £250 and we are taking 15 children.

“That minibus can take 15 children and two members of staff.”

The bus was also used to take the year sixes to Hamsterley Forest for a picnic after sitting their SATs.

The headteacher said: “Obviously, it’s got some cost associated with running it, but compared to the cost of transport, and the freedom that we can have to go to places, it is invaluable.”