A Hull primary school is celebrating after being presented with a national award for encouraging students, and their families, to walk, wheel and cycle to school more.
Paisley Primary School has achieved a ‘Good Travel Plan’ certificate through the Modeshift STARS Education Programme.
The national STARS education scheme recognises schools and other educational establishments that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel.
As part of its submission, the school highlighted several activities and initiatives it has completed over the past year, including a ‘walking bus’ to help improve school attendance and ensure students arrive on time.
The school has also been listening to residents and communicating with parents about the importance of safe parking and encouraging active travel as much as possible, including the launch of a ‘park and stride’, which encourages parents to park at nearby West Park and walk with their children to the school gates.
Hull City Council offers schools and education establishments in the city the chance to join Modeshift STARS Education for free as part of its strategic objective of promoting road safety and active travel choices, with the programme delivered locally through the local authority’s supplier, First Step Sports Group.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure at Hull City Council, said: “Paisley Primary School are doing an amazing job in encouraging students and their families to walk, wheel and cycle and we would like to congratulate them on receiving national recognition for this.
“As a council, we’re committed to building a greener and healthier Hull by supporting active and sustainable travel choices across all our communities.
“Over the past year, more than a dozen schools across the city have signed up to take part in Modeshift STARS and the WOW Challenge by Living Streets, or both, which is resulting in hundreds of journeys to and from school each day being done actively or more sustainably.”
Allison Hayward, assistant head teacher at Paisley Primary School, said: “Paisley are thrilled to receive The Good Travel Plan award again. The Wow Travel Tracker has really incentivised the pupils to travel to school actively. Our bike park is always full, and the children wear their monthly reward badges with pride.
“The support from parents has been brilliant, helping to make the roads around our school safer and less congested for local residents.
“Working with the council and Modeshift has provided the school with lots of extra-curricular opportunities and the children have taken part in pre-pedal, Bikeability and pedestrian skills lessons to help them gain confidence in using active travel options.”
If your school would like to take part in the Modeshift STARS Education Programme, contact Rebecca Rose, Modeshift coordinator, at: rebecca@firststep-sports.co.uk