Wellingborough primary school handed active travel award for promoting walking, scooting and cycling
“Our children want to create an impact, not only for themselves but for their children and families in the future”
Pupils and staff at Stanton Cross Primary School in Wellingborough have been recognised for their work to improve road safety by being handed a Modeshift STARS award.
The accolade gives praise for the school’s work developing a travel plan in a bid to increase walking, scooting and cycling to school.
Students conducted a survey of how pupils travel to school and how they would like to travel to school, assessing the viability of different methods of travel by carrying out a site and street audit of how easy it is to walk or cycle and listing the actions they plan to take to make travelling easier and safer.
Melissa Albert, headteacher at Stanton Cross Primary School, said: “We are over the moon to receive an award that acknowledges the hard work of staff and children on travelling to school on foot, by bike or scooter.
“We are a new school, serving the local community and thinking about the importance of staying safe whilst also thinking about the local environment and pollution.
“Our children want to create an impact, not only for themselves but for their children and families in the future. We can’t wait to continue working with Brightwayz, thinking about a better community for our Stanton Cross families.”
The Modeshift STARS award (Sustainable Travel Accredited and Recognised) is given on behalf of the Department for Transport, and Stanton Cross Primary is one of the first in the county to be awarded the ‘approved’ level for their school travel plan.
So far this year, six schools in Northamptonshire have achieved a Modeshift STARS accreditation, and 19 schools are actively involved in the project, which includes free support coming via investment from North Northamptonshire Council (NNC).
The work is contracted to local active travel social enterprise Brightwayz, who support schools across the county while working in partnership with NNC’s highways team.
The aim is for every school in the county to have a travel plan in place by 2034.
Cllr Chris McGiffen, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for highways and travel, waste, environmental services and country parks, said: “It is fantastic to see Stanton Cross Primary School recognised for the commitment it has shown to promoting active travel.
“Encouraging more children to walk, scoot or cycle to school can bring significant benefits, not only for their health and well-being but also by helping to reduce congestion around school gates and improving road safety for everyone.
”The school’s travel plan is a great example of how pupils, staff and partners can work together to identify practical ways to make journeys to school safer and more sustainable.
“Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this award and I hope it inspires other schools across North Northamptonshire to take advantage of the support available and begin their own active travel journey.”
After the presentation, a selection of pupils then took to the streets to do an ‘active travel inspectors’ audit accompanied by Brightwayz. Their findings are being submitted to the North Northants Council highways team.
Schools interested in getting support from Brightwayz to develop their own Modeshift STARS travel plan should contact [email protected].