LUCKY pupils at one of the leading schools in the kingdom will be racing their way to the Bahrain International Circuit for the Formula 1 Grand Prix for ever more, thanks to its motorsport-mad principal and his senior colleagues.

John Maguire, executive headmaster of The British School of Bahrain (BSB), has written to parents to ensure families can enjoy the big race day experience, as part of a series of educational events, projects and initiatives which, he says, not only develop interest but also celebrate the event.

He said: “So that the students can all enjoy the pinnacle of this programme of events, the Senior Leadership Team have made the decision that F1 Sunday will be an annual Staff Development Day at BSB.

“Students will have the day free at home to enrich themselves in all the celebrations and events that surround the Bahrain Grand Prix, whilst also completing independent learning set by the school.”

The BSB staff members will be in school during the morning to complete staff development training and then time will be made available for individual planning and project work.

The decision, Mr Maguire says, was made based on several factors:

· It is the biggest event on Bahrain’s sporting calendar.
· It will allow families, who wish to attend, the opportunity to enjoy the entire F1 experience, particularly the evening entertainment and the build-up and excitement of meeting the drivers on the final race day.
· To eliminate the impact of the increased number of F1 Sunday absences on the schools’ overall attendance figures.
· It provides a unique learning opportunity for independent enquiry.
In order to ensure that students do not miss out on valuable learning, teachers are setting an F1 learning task to complete over the weekend.

Teachers have been asked to generate ideas to stretch the students and develop independent learning skills. These can take any form and may range from designing a new logo for a new racing car to journalism-based activities such as interviewing people attending the event.

“This is a prestigious event that is broadcast all over the world and will provide a plethora of learning opportunities for our students whether they attend the event or watch it unfold from the comfort of their home,” added Mr Maguire.

Families have welcomed the move. One told GDNonline: “It has been a constant battle to get my son to school on the Sunday. He and his friends were tired after attending the great evening entertainment shows on the Friday and Saturday nights and also didn’t want to miss Sunday’s big race.”

Last year, only a lucky few got the chance to attend the event on an official school trip and a video of them meeting Mercedes’ world champion Lewis Hamilton went vital when the ace driver posted it on his social media.

Mr Maguire took up his post at BSB, a part of Inspired, a global education group with several international schools in its portfolio, in January. He was the former senior deputy head at Haberdasher’s Askes’ Boys School in London, one of the UK’s top schools and winner of the Sunday Times Independent School of the Year accolade.

He admits he ‘absolutely loves F1’ and cannot wait for the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix which takes place from March 19 – 22 at Sakhir.

“My father-in-law builds classic racing cars for a hobby, so it is good to have F1 as a shared interest,” he explained. “He even built a 1960s Brabham that went so quick I think he scared himself at one point.

“I still remember my first F1 race at the UK’s Silverstone circuit, when Nigel Mansell got so frustrated with his car he threw his gloves into the crowd and said he was resigning. He didn’t!

“Having grown up near Stevenage, where Lewis Hamilton lived, I am compelled to say Lewis will win this year. I have always been a fan of his, although I did like Jenson Button and his profile of what a winner should be like. The last school I taught as was where Damon Hill went to school.”