About TheSchoolRun

TheSchoolRun is the website for parents who want to know the latest information on how to help their children with their primary school education and make sure they stay healthy, have fun and get the best possible start in life.

If you have kids who are gifted and talented or have special educational needs, or if you're simply looking for ways to make sure your children achieve their full potential and enjoy their time at school, we aim to help you negotiate the education maze.

"We turned the television off last week thanks to something I read on TheSchoolRun – we did lots more as a family and no-one even asked for the TV!" Kimberley Lunn, TheSchoolRun reader

"It has inspired me to take control of my child's development instead of leaving it to the education system and has brought me closer to my youngest child through participation in joint activities." Michelle White, TheSchoolRun reader

TheSchoolRun team

Dani Zur – Divisional Manager and mum to Alex, 15, Jonah, 12, and Eva, 6

What was your favourite subject at primary school?
Creative writing – I loved making up stories.
Sports Day – loved it or loathed it?
I loved it, though I was rubbish at it. Always last in the Egg & Spoon and no-one ever wanted to be my partner in the three-legged race.
Most embarrassing memory of primary school?
I got put over the teacher’s knee and smacked (yes, I went to primary school a long time ago!) for getting paint on Tracey Hall’s shirt. I was particularly aggrieved because it was my birthday.
Packed lunch or school dinners?
School dinners. Favourite memory is the Dinner Lady insisting that I could sit at the table all afternoon till I finished my cabbage, and my response – throwing up on her shoes!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to work for Jackie magazine.

Elena Dalrymple – Editorial Director and mum to Kate, 7, Tom, 5, and Emily, 1

Who was your favourite teacher (and why)?
Miss Dean – incredibly inspirational and passionate about words and books. I can still remember confessing to her that I really wanted to write a book (something I definitely don't want to do now!) and her encouragement.
Sports Day –––– loved it or loathed it?
Absolutely loathed it – my worst day of the school year. (School swimming lessons came a very close second. The PE teacher had to jump in and rescue me once.)
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
Apparently my Reception teacher left the classroom for a moment and came back to find me, aged 4, keeping the other children in check by 'reading' to them, having shepherded them onto the carpet and instructed them to be quiet. My mum loves telling this story as proof that I've always been bossy!
Are you still in touch with primary school friends?
I met Isabel aged 3 and we still see each other regularly; we've got five kids between us now.

 

Michael Howard – Community Manager

Who was your favourite teacher at primary school?
Mr Barrett; he taught English so inspirationally.
What's your best memory of primary school?
I loved reading the Greek myths and I wanted to borrow a huge book on the subject from the library but the librarian said that it wasn't suitable for me (I think because it was illustrated with classical pictures of naked sirens or something). Mr Barrett took the issue to the headmaster on my behalf and eventually I was allowed to read the book.
Sports Day –– – loved it or loathed it?
Loathed it I'm afraid.
Packed lunch or school dinners?
School dinners – but we often climbed over the school railings to buy battered Spam fritters (I was at school in the North of England).
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Didn't know, still don’t.

Alex Bagdadi – Marketing Manager

What was your favourite subject at primary school?
Creative writing and Art and I distinctly remember watching lots of David Attenborough when he went to the Borneo which I loved.
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
I couldn’t possibly say as I am still mortified by it.

Packed lunch or school dinners?
I distinctly remember sweaty cheese and Marmite sandwiches...

Are you still in touch with primary school friends?
I went to primary school in Tripoli so I have only just recently got in touch via Facebook. They now live all over the world but I remember them all very fondly.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet, although clearly it wouldn’t have worked since I hate needles and blood.

Stacey-Marie Thompson – Media Executive

What was your favourite subject at primary school?
Reading, writing and art. I would get my mum to buy me my own copies of the books we had in the book cupboard at school. I’d read them at home, before we read them in class, and write out summarised versions, with pictures I’d drawn, for my friends to read as well. That way we were always ahead of the rest of the class. I doubt my teacher was impressed by my ability to ruin her lesson plans...
Sports Day - loved it or loathed it?
I was really rubbish at anything sporty (my hand eye coordination was practically non-existent) but that didn’t stop me from being overly competitive and getting really upset when I lost (all the time). I think it’s a good idea but I loathe the feeling of uselessness it evokes in children who are like me.
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
Far too many embarrassing moments to mention. The most memorable was running across the playground, tripping up (probably over my own feet), falling face first and knocking out my two front teeth. They weren’t even wobbly.
Packed lunch or school dinners?
A mix of both depending on my mood.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A panther (seriously).

Elizabeth Leight – Assistant Editor 

What was your favourite subject at primary school?
I always loved reading, so anything that involved getting stuck in a new book or story was fine with me!
Sports Day – loved it or loathed it?
Loathed it. I’ve never been good at games that involve making sure a ball gets from point A to point B, but fortunately had a good friend who was just as lacking in coordination, and we stuck together.
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
Because I could read out loud well, I was chosen as the narrator for the end-of-year play, Chicken Little, and missed out on being a character (which I was very disappointed about). When I reached the end of the play, the audience clapped… and then I read out “The End”, and the whole auditorium burst into laughter.
Are you still in touch with primary school friends?
Yes, one of my best friends today was in my Reception class. On the first day, she kept telling me how excited she was that there might be clay to play with. But, she burst into tears when it was time for the mums to leave, and I couldn’t understand why shoving clay at her wasn’t helping her feel better!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer, dancer, teacher, fireman and archaeologist (yes, all at the same time).
 

Michael Ball – Marketing Executive

Who was your favourite teacher (and why)?
Mrs Flinstone. I was an extremely well-behaved child in primary school and in a class of unruly pupils she always appreciated that I was just quiet and got on with it. I also struggled with my handwriting, and most other teachers would get angry but she’d sit down with me and help me practise.
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
The day when I forgot to bring my PE kit in. The teachers were quite strict and didn’t let you get away without taking part. They had a bag of mismatched spare clothes which we were forced to wear. I was put in an luminous green T-shirt, bright orange shorts and jet black plimsolls. Let's just say the other kids were not understanding.
Packed lunch or school dinners?
Always packed lunch. We were not allowed any sweets or chocolate in our packed lunches, so my mum used to hide some chocolate in my food. Usually a Kinder egg in a packet of Ritz biscuits. I was the envy of the rest of my class.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
As many young boys do I wanted to be a footballer. And as many adult men do I will blame a leg injury for me not fulfilling this dream.

Laura Parker – Marketing Copywriter

What was your favourite subject at primary school?
English. I’ve been a bookworm ever since I can remember, and always jumped at the chance to do some writing in the classroom or at home.
Who was your favourite teacher (and why)?
Mr Rimmel. He wasn’t one of my actual class teachers, but we often had Drama lessons with him. I loved his enthusiasm and theatricality; he always knew how to tell a story and bring characters to life.
Sports Day –– loved it or loathed it?
Loathed it. I’m not a natural athlete and just about managed to stay upright during the egg and spoon or sack races!
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
During my Year 6 activity week, we went dinghy boat sailing on a lake. When changing direction on the water, my sailing partner shouted ‘Duck!’ as the boom (that’s the pole at the bottom of the main sail) was about to swing across to the other side of the boat. I, however, thought she meant there was a feathered creature nearby, and so was hit in the head not once, but several times. We had to be towed back to shore by the instructors so I could receive emergency treatment to the large lump on my head. I was mortified.
Packed lunch or school dinners?
A mixture of both! Loved my school canteen’s chips and iced buns, but I always had a penchant for my mum’s cheese and Marmite sandwiches. (And still do today.)

Muriel Oduro – Customer Services Executive and mum to Renaee, 13, and Remmel, 9

Who was your favourite teacher (and why)?
Miss Johnson, she always made my art a focal point at parents evening.
Sports Day – loved it or loathed it?
Loved it. My brother was the fastest runner and when he left I was the fastest female runner. I really enjoyed sports, but hated swimming – it made my hair dry and I had a wet look (curly perm) back in the days.
What's your most embarrassing memory of primary school?
I used to get bullied by a boy called Christopher. He put my head in the bin outside in the playground and I thought he would get in trouble, but when I told the dinner lady she said never mind.
Packed lunch or school dinners?
School dinners. Cake and custard, mmm...
Are you still in touch with primary school friends?
I bump into them at times and stay in touch via Facebook.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress/artist/dancer/singer/TV producer.