Parents walk 28 miles for school playground

Nearly 60 parents, school governors and staff have walked 28 miles from Wembley Stadium in London to a primary school to raise funds for playground equipment.

The footsore group undertook the challenge on Saturday. They hoped to raise £12,000 to improve the outdoor spaces at Wigmore Primary School in Luton.

Head teacher Damien Johnston said "increasing pressure on school budgets" meant the fundraiser was essential to provide pupils with "the benefits of physical activity".

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said "despite deeply challenging choices about public spending", it was "putting record investment into our schools".

"We know that children benefit enormously from regular physical activity; it provides positive mental health and wellbeing," said Johnston.

"There's increasing pressure on school budgets and we know that outdoor activity and learning is a vital part of child development."

The walkers set off from Wembley at about 07:15 BST and, by 18:00, they had all reached the school "footsore and emotional". They were met by pupils with water pistols, music and confetti, said one of the parents who took part.

There are about 600 pupils at the school and they organised their own fundraisers, including completing a water obstacle course.

The school wants to put in a multi-purpose sports area, basketball courts, climbing frames and, for children with special educational needs and disabilities, sensory play equipment, said Johnston.

"Fundraising is a huge opportunity to bring the school community together, not just the parents, but the children and local businesses to create that positive sense of community in the local area," he added.

The DfE spokesperson said: "In 2026-2027, the core schools budget will total £67bn – an increase of £1.7bn from 2025-2026.

"Alongside this, we have just announced almost £1bn of investment over the next three years in our new PE partnerships network, which will give schools tailored support, including access to expert coaches, top-up swimming lessons or more extra-curricular opportunities, while also supporting schools to improve their sports facilities."

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