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A culture of healthy living is being introduced at a new primary school.

Magna Carta Primary Academy is in just its second year and so the culture and traditions are being developed every day.

With the arrival of new headteacher Marios Solomonides this term, there is a renewed push on healthy living.

The creation of a brand new building for Magna Carta, next to the existing temporary site, is due to be finished in July. Developers are including a one-mile track around the site which will enable pupils to take part in The Daily Mile project, where they are challenged to walk or run one mile every day to keep active.

The school is also looking at the food its children are eating and educating them on healthy eating choices.

Mr Solomonides said: “It’s all about encouraging a lifestyle that will be beneficial to our pupils now and when they are adults. Physical health leads into good mental health and that is something we can never take our eye off of. It’s so important.”

With parking limited near the school, talks are taking place to set up a walking bus scheme where parents can deliver their children to a safe drop-off point where they will walk together to school.

Mr Solomonides has joined the Stansted Business Forum and is discussing opportunities with local contacts to use parking spaces in the village for parents.

He said: “We are keen to take cars away from St John’s Road as there is no pavement and it is not safe for dropping children off at school. Plus, it is a private road and so parking for parents is not permitted. We appreciate the disruption parents and residents have been through while building work takes place on our new school and are trying to find solutions.

“I am looking at green travel options and the idea of setting up a walking bus to be co-ordinated by volunteer parents. Discussions are taking place to establish somewhere that is safe for parents to drop their children off, so they can walk together – away from the busy roads – to school.

“This will be a long-term project. Not only do we want to ease the parking situation, it is also about healthy lifestyles and encouraging children to walk. We want them to walk to school and to be moving during the day; for physical activity to be a part of their routine.”