SWASHBUCKLING students from Chiseldon Primary School took a cut-throat walk to school yesterday after winning a special prize.

During Walk To School Week last month youngsters at Chiseldon took part in a competition to create the best drawing of a mode of transport from the past or future.

Keisha, a Year 3 pupil, won the prize from Swindon Council and yesterday school travel adviserJane Deeley visited the school to give them their prize – an assembly with the Histrionics group.

Headteacher Spencer Allen said: “In Walk To School Week all the children entered the competition and Keisha won it.

“The prize was to have an assembly from Histrionics, which took us back in time.

“Because the Year 1 class had learned about pirates we thought it would be a good way to revisit that learning we chose that theme.

“There were several themes that could be chosen from but we thought we would do that.”

About 120 children took part in the event, dressing up in pirate costumes.

They were also joined by their parents for the walk into school before the Histrionics Group performed the pirate-themed assembly.

Spencer said: “It was really, really good, all the children really enjoyed it.

“It was all about encouraging children to walk to school.

“About 40 per cent of our pupils currently walk to school and so a high proportion of our parents do still drive.

“Walking to school is really important for health reasons and encouraging children to keep fit and healthy, but it is also a way to reduce our carbon footprint.”

All the primary schools in Swindon took part in Walk To School Week from May 19 to 23 with many entering the travel through time drawing competition.

So far 16 schools have also joined the council’s five-minute-walk-zone initiative which was first set up three years ago.

At the time of the competition Jane said: “We’ve had some brilliant entries so far – from steam trains, to moon landers and even sedan chairs.

“It’s great that the competition really seems to have captured children’s imaginations.

“Most schools are now very proactive in helping their pupils get to school in healthier, and more sustainable ways and we can offer practical support and advice to help them achieve these goals.”