In light of National Lockdown and worldwide travel restrictions, The Bourne Academy has launched a virtual challenge to make the journey from Bournemouth to its partner school in Kenya. The aim is for staff and students, to clock up the 6040 mileage from Hadow Road in Bournemouth to Osiligi Obaya School in Kenya, using any mode of transport they wish.

‘Osiligi’ means hope, and the hope for this project is to bring us all a little closer together in a time when the world feels very disconnected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So far this term, staff and students have clocked up over 400 miles, passing Poole Ferry Terminal and major journey markers in France such as Cherbourg-Octeville, Nantes & La Rochelle. The journey is being plotted on a giant map in the Academy’s Reception, with regular updates on social media and via the Academy news bulletin to our whole community.

The Bourne Academy received a special 10 Year Anniversary congratulations from our partner in Kenya, Osiligi Obaya Primary School,l as this year The Bourne Academy is celebrating ten years since becoming an Academy. The Bournemouth school has been supporting the Osiligi Obaya Primary School in the Maasai Warrior community in Kenya since 2011, with the key objective to assist the community to become more economically active, helping them to help themselves, whilst not changing their beautiful culture. 

There have also been many fundraising drives over the years, most recently a Christmas Jumper MUFTI day and, in 2016-2017 raising £5000 to build a new teachers’ house called ‘The Bourne Academy House’.

Caroline Gobell, Business Director, commented: ‘We are absolutely delighted to be launching this new year challenge for our whole community to join in with.  The 6040 mile journey is inspiring us all in so many ways: chasing away the winter blues, bringing our community further together during a 2^nd national lockdown and raising awareness of our partner school, of whom we are extremely proud.  We are giving out various prizes at the end of this journey and so far there seems to be some very healthy competition between staff v students for the most mileage, or most unusual mode of transport!’.

Kingsleigh Primary School student Ellie, launched a Christmas food bank collection, with the goal of donating food to those most in need over the festive period. The idea snowballed as staff and students from both Kingsleigh Primary School and The Bourne Academy began to donate items to the cause. The collection now has over 50 festive hampers ready to donate to those in need in the local community.

Ellies mum, Mrs Luker, who works at The Bourne Academy says ‘Ellie decided to do “Ellies Advent Collection” and donate an item a day in December to people who are less fortunate. Ellie is passionate about helping others and she feels very proud that so many people have supported her in collections”.

Kingsleigh Primary School Headteacher, Mr James Lumber says "We are all really proud of Ellie at KPS, for her amazing efforts with her collection and for being so proactive, kind and caring. I know that the donations will be really appreciated in the community and they will make a real difference to families this Christmas."

Three Year 11 students at The Bourne Academy, National Enterprise Challenger winners in summer 2020,  have helped to design the packaging and create the slogan for a new energy bar that has today (12 October 2020) been launched by Grenade nationally.