Alderton Junior School has been recognised as the Move With Us Move Maker Award winner for June, celebrating their outstanding commitment to promoting physical activity and strengthening community wellbeing.
The school has set the standard as the creators of Essex’s first community-level Daily Mile route, going above and beyond to extend opportunities for movement far beyond the school gates. This innovative approach ensures that being active is not just part of the school day, but something that can be shared and enjoyed by the whole community.
Working closely with pupils, families, and local partners, Alderton co-created an inclusive and engaging route designed to support and inspire active lifestyles for all ages and abilities. By opening the route to the wider community, the school has created opportunities for families to be active together and build healthier habits outside of the classroom.
A key part of the project’s success has been the role of pupils. From helping design and name the route to promoting its launch, young people at Alderton have taken real ownership of the initiative. Their involvement highlights their creativity, leadership and pride in shaping something meaningful for their community, demonstrating the strength of youth voice.
This project not only embeds daily activity into school life but also strengthens community connections and creates lasting opportunities for people to move more together. It is already helping to encourage greater community use and supporting families to spend more time being active.
Emma Alderman, Active Essex Relationship Development Officer, who worked closely with the school in the lead up said;
“We are incredibly proud of the energy, creativity, and commitment shown by everyone at Alderton Junior School. Their dedication to embedding physical activity into everyday life, and extending this beyond the school gates into the wider community, is truly inspiring. The way pupils have helped shape and champion this initiative highlights the strength of their youth voice and sense of ownership. We’re excited to see how this continues to grow, with a lasting legacy of increased community use and more opportunities for families to be active together, an achievement formed from their passion and commitment.”
Alderton Junior School’s passion, partnership working and innovative thinking make them a truly deserving Move Maker Award winner for June, and a fantastic example of how schools can lead the way in creating active, connected communities.
