RPRA announces pigeon programme for schools and Schools Championship

The Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) has announced it is accepting enquiries and requests from the press and schools; all media enquiries should be directed to RPRA CEO Chris Sutton at [email protected] or by telephone on 01452 713529. RPRA said it can deliver informative visits to schools on topics such as the "role of pigeons in wars", One Loft races and pigeon racing in general. The organisation also said it can support schools in setting up a loft and in applying for funding to do so. Some schools have set up their own lofts and race their birds, and with RPRA support use pigeons as an educational tool within the curriculum. Schools listed by the RPRA that are already racing their own pigeons include: Kingsmead School Pigeon Project (Staffordshire); St Andrews School (Oswaldtwistle); Longshaw Jr School (Blackburn); Peel Park School (Lancashire); Diggle School (Oldham); Beech Grove School (Kent); Kings Hawford School (Worcestershire); Theydon Bois Primary School (Essex). RPRA said these programmes are recognised in some schools as an alternative education approach and make a positive contribution to meeting pupils' needs. Schools are advised to contact RPRA CEO Chris Sutton for guidance on setting up their own lofts and for further information. Other schools can take part in a One Loft Race programme: a local fancier breeds a pigeon to join the school; the school tracks the bird's progress through the race programme and receives any prize money. The RPRA said schools should contact the One Loft team to register interest. As part of the RPRA Schools Awards, St Andrew’s Primary School, Oswaldtwistle, was named Bamford’s Schools Champions 2022. The school began pigeon racing in 2019, won its first race to become the first RPRA Schools Champion, and in 2020 achieved the best weekly coefficient score of 8.06 among all schools, again winning the RPRA Schools Championship. Bamford’s Corn supports the championship by providing free feed to schools throughout the year. The cup was presented to the school and received on its behalf by Deputy Headteacher Paul Burns together with the headteacher and the site manager.