Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey officially got off the marks with a 15-mile run across the Island.

It started a day of celebrations to mark the school being taken over by its new sponsor Oasis Community Learning.

A group of 20 pupils and staff from the academy and 30 athletes from other Oasis sites in Hextable in Kent and Coulsdon and Shirley Park in Croydon completed different stages of the journey in teams.

From the staring line in Leysdown Coastal Park they visited all the Island schools along the way before finishing at the academy’s west site, in Marine Parade, Sheerness.

Founder of Oasis, the Rev Steve Chalke, and executive principal David Millar, led the final leg from St Edward’s Primary School.

Five hundred helium balloons were released into the sky at both academy sites before a commemorative plaque was unveiled by Mr Chalke.

While the run was going on, youngsters at the east site, in Minster Road, Minster, were making paper planes in team-building workshops.

A creative writing competition was also held, with the winner receiving a Kindle.

Later the Rev John Lewis, area dean of Sittingbourne and member of the academy’s council, said a prayer of dedication to a memorial garden for staff and pupils who have passed away, which was held indoors due to rain. The contents of a time capsule, which will be buried at the east site, were then shown to members of the community who had been invited for a tea party.

They included items donated by local primary schools, a school uniform, a Tesco clubcard in the name of David Millar, a Morrisons toy truck, a mobile phone, teddy bears, photos from the Sheppey 365 project and a copy of the Sheerness Times Guardian and of a national newspaper.

A reception in the evening was attended by the Mayor of Swale, Cllr Sue Gent, borough councillors, Department for Education representatives, community partners and Sheppey groups.

Ideas for the day’s events had come about through a staff training day in January.

Mr Millar said it felt like a new beginning for the school

He said: “This came off the back of the inset days we had in January when all the staff created ideas.

“It has been fantastic. The children were so excited and everyone has helped with the decorating and putting up bunting.”

• See this week's Sheerness Times Guardian for more pictures.