Downs Primary
Enriching students lives through active travel
Based in Harlow, The Downs Primary school continues to provide educational offerings and maintain a supportive environment through the Opening Schools Facility (OSF) programme. This has allowed the school to offer new physical activities, enriching students' experiences and embedding these activities into the community.
The partnership has significantly supported children and young people, after school interventions, access to facilities, and community engagement. A key highlight is the activation of multisport activities, including biking and scooting, aligning with the Harlow Partnership expansion and Pedal Power.
The programme began with a free scooting opportunity via a partnership with Rubicon, enhancing skills and linking to active travel. The school already had a partnership with a local organisation, Sports Cool, embedded in the community through the Essex ActivAte programme. Sports Cool had experience with wheeled interventions, making them an ideal partner.
When the scooting opportunity arose, Active Essex collaborated with The Downs to utilise OSF funding effectively. This resulted in the school receiving equipment, training, and delivery support.
Although Harlow is an area with excellent cycling routes, many children lack access to bikes or the opportunity to learn to ride due to socio-economic deprivation and an ethnically diverse population. The programme targets Years 3 and 4 pupils to provide learning opportunities before stigmas set in, hoping to increase bike usage as children get older.
Active Essex commended the school’s openness to new delivery avenues and partnerships, benefiting both the school and the community.
Outcomes
Beyond school provision, the initiative led to:
- A review of the schools Active travel plan
- 12 weeks of structured wheeled activities boosting students confidence
- A fleet of bikes which can be used continually to support all students within the school
- Wider awareness of Essex Pedal Power and the future opportunities to connect eligible families into the local initiative.
The location and facilities provided easy community access, which contributed to the success of the Pedal Power giveaway, and positively utilised local providers. to this. Through broader discussions on opening school facilities, the school has supported extending their community reach, including hosting Essex Pedal Power giveaway events.
Opening facilities outside school hours for community initiatives has been a success, driven by headteacher Rob Calderwood's commitment to making the school a community hub.
