Race is now officially on!

Jun 2 2008 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

SCHOOLS across the region will today start the race to collect as many tokens as possible to compete for a share of £15,000 in a competition run by The Journal.

Tokens for Schools will see pupils, their families and teachers teaming up to put their school in the running for one of a series of cash prizes.

The competition will be run on a tokens per head basis, meaning smaller schools can compete against their larger counterparts.

And there are no restrictions on how the prize money must be spent by the winners.

There are four prizes available for each of three categories – primary and first schools; secondary, middle and high schools; and special needs schools.

First prize is £2,500, second is £1,500 while the third and fourth-placed schools in each section will receive £500 each.

More than 50 schools have registered for the competition and there will be regular updates in The Journal in the coming weeks, allowing people to track their school’s progress.

Over the past few weeks, staff at a number of schools have speculated on what the money would be used for, were they to win a cash prize.

Maggie Anderson, headteacher at Sele First School in Hexham, Northumberland, suggested a new kitchen may be in the offing.

Meanwhile, pupils at Harlow Green Primary School in Gateshead may see their design for a new yard become a reality.

And schools elsewhere in the region are considering buying books, developing playgrounds and buying music and computer equipment.

Tokens will appear in The Journal every day until Friday July 11.

For the chance for your school to win a share of £15,000 click here

The schools taking part:

First Schools:

Acklington First School, Morpeth; Allendale First School, Allendale; Alnwick South First School, Alnwick; Barley Mow Primary School, Birtley; Bede Burn Primary School, Jarrow; Bedlington Station First School, Bedlington Station; Clover Hill Community Primary School, Whickham; Collierley Primary School, Dipton; Coquet Park First School, Whitley Bay; East Rainton Primary School, East Rainton; Eglingham Church of England First, Eglingham; Forest Hall Primary, Forest Hall; Greenhaugh First School, Hexham; Haltwhistle First School, Haltwhistle; Harbottle Church of England Aided First School, Morpeth; Heddon St Andrew’s Church of England First School, Heddon-on-the Wall; Holley Park Primary, Washington; Holy Trinity First School, Berwick; Hugh Joicey Church of England Aided First School, Berwick; Linton First School, Morpeth; Malvins Close First School, Blyth; Newsham First School, Blyth; Norham St Ceolwulf’s First School, Berwick; Percy Main Primary School, North Shields; Portobello Primary School, Birtley; Raughton Head Church of England Primary School, Carlisle; Red Row First School, Morpeth; Rockcliffe First School, Whitley Bay; Roman Road Primary School, Gateshead; Saltburn Primary School, Saltburn; Seghill First School, Cramlington; Sele First School, Hexham; Silver Tree Primary, Ushaw Moor; Sir James Knott Nursery School, Tynemouth; St Godric’s RCVA Primary School, Wheatley Hill; Stakeford First School, Choppington; Stamfordham First School, Stamfordham; Wansbeck First School, Wansbeck; Welbeck Primary School, Walker; Whalton Church of England First School, Morpeth.

Secondary Schools: Ashington High School, Ashington; Bedlingtonshire Community High School, Bedlington; Blyth Community College, Blyth; Glendale Middle School, Wooler; Marden High School, North Shields; Ovingham Middle School, Ovingham; Seahouses Middle School, Seahouses; St Joseph’s RC Secondary School, Hebburn; St Joseph’s RC Middle School, Hexham; Willey High Tunstall College of Science, Hartlepool.

Special Schools: Epinary Business and Enterprise School, Jarrow; Eslington School, Gateshead; Villa Real School, Consett.