Bedales Pre-prep makes waves with Red Nose Day swimathon

In an impressive display of collective endeavour, children at Bedales Pre-prep raised £850 for Comic Relief by diving into action and taking part in a sponsored swimathon on Tuesday 12 March.

Children in Years 1-3 worked together to collectively swim a total 1,870 pool widths – equivalent to 18,870 metres – to raise money for the charity, which supports local community organisations in the UK and across the globe. The swimathon was a heartwarming demonstration of teamwork and perseverance, with the children supporting each other every stroke of the way.

Out of the water, the Pre-prep’s youngest learners in Nursery and Reception completed an obstacle course for their contribution, displaying determination and resilience as they completed as many laps as possible.

On Red Nose Day itself, children were invited to wear wearing something red to mark the occasion. The day also provided an opportunity for children to deepen their understanding of compassion and community by reflecting on ways to help others and hanging their own expressions of compassionate wishes – written on ‘red noses’ – on a ‘compassion tree’, symbolising how such wishes can serve as seeds from which acts of compassion grow.

Fiona Read, Head of Bedales Pre-prep, commented: “We are so proud of what the children have achieved – both the distance they swam and the obstacle course laps completed, and their united effort for such a worthy cause. This is testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together, filled with determination, boundless energy and a desire to make a positive difference to the lives of others."