Warwickshire News Mine

The School Travel Awards were held on Tuesday by Warwickshire County Council to celebrate the efforts gone to by these schools.

Cycling and walking are on the up, plus for those schools where the majority of parents say they have to drive, new park and walk schemes are being set up. These are where the schools have arranged with local businesses to use their car parks for parents parking, and the children then walk a short distance to school.

Tuesday saw 40 schools receive certificates for completing a School Travel Plan and a further three schools (Arden Forest Infant School, St Peter’s Catholic Primary School and St Mary’s Catolic Primary School) were given a plaque and £250 for their efforts.

Each school brought along children to join the festivities where they enjoyed a comedy performance by the Mo Mo theatre company, juggling and circus skills and a “Who wants to be a Millionaire” style interactive travel quiz.

Four schools (St Andrew’s Benn C of E Primary School, St Mary’s Catholic School in Studley, Priors School and Arden Forest Infants School) also spoke about their own challenges and successes in changing the school run and inspiring others.

Laura Vesty, the county council’s Sustainable Travel Officer, said: “Schools are working on a whole host of imaginative schemes to get children and parents involved in walking and cycling to school. School staff, children and parents’ dedication and enthusiasm never ceases to amaze me.

“If they can inspire just one parent and child to walk to school more often, they’ve done a great job. These awards are certainly well deserved.”

The day also saw a workshop for ten schools to find out how to write their travel plan and get involved.

Laura added: “Every school and every person’s situation is unique. There are a lot of little things we can all do to improve our travel behaviour. It’s not just about the environment, it’s about being active, appreciating the outdoors and making the area around our schools safer as well as all the money you can save just by traveling differently at least one day a week.”

Link to WCC