Adam Pettitt joined by son Louis

A SCHOOL headteacher has completed a marathon by running laps of the sports pitch, raising money to send laptops to disadvantaged children struggling to access learning resources during the coronavirus lockdown.

Adam Pettitt at Highgate School in Highgate village ran 106 laps of the grounds in just under three and a half hours.

He was joined by his teenage children Louis and Millie for the challenge which began at 6.30am on Friday. Although Highgate is a fee-paying school, it has formed a partnership to help state schools.

A hug at the finish from wife, Barbara

Mr Pettitt’s run raised £60,000 and will pay for nearly 300 laptops, starting with year 12 students at Acland Burghley Secondary School in Tufnell Park.

He said: “The Covid-19 crisis has done much to reveal existing inequalities and injustices in our society. The impact of ‘digital poverty’ on children’s education and futures might not be something that we’d considered in life pre-lockdown.”

His school had managed to work with students while the school was locked through its “Highgate@Home” operation online, but this had only worked because pupils had access to devices. Camden Council said around 3,000 children have been unable to access a laptop or a tablet during the lockdown so far.

Mr Pettitt is determined to tackle ‘digital poverty’

It has continued to appeal for businesses to donate unused equipment. Although some pupils are due to return to school next month, some secondary school students may have to wait until September.