Walking and cycling superstars at Westfield Infants
Westfield Infants School in Chesterfield has received a national award for encouraging pupils to enjoy a more active, safer and greener commute.
The Modeshift STARS bronze accreditation recognises the school’s efforts in getting more children to travel on foot, by bike or via other sustainable means of transport, such as scooters, public transport or car sharing.
Supported by parents, staff, Derbyshire County Council and Sustrans – a national charity working towards sustainable travel – the school has taken part in a number of practical initiatives over the past academic year. These included ‘Scooter Smart’ training run by the County Council, and ‘Skills to Ride’ delivered by local cycling safety experts, Wheely Fun Wheels.
Westfield Infants has delivered great results, having more than doubled the amount of children walking, cycling or scooting to school on a daily basis.
The bronze award was presented to pupils at a school celebration held on Wednesday 4th November by Philip J. Smith, Senior Transport Officer from Derbyshire County Council, and Lisa Hopkinson, a Sustrans volunteer.
Mr Whitham, of Westfield Infant School, said: “Undertaking the Modeshift STARS award scheme has helped to raise the importance and profile of travelling in a sustainable way. Children loved the engaging assembly to kick-start the program. More and more of our children are coming to school on scooters and bikes, we are even looking into purchasing a new bike shelter to hold all the bikes!”
Following the successful bronze initiatives, the school is continuing the scheme and hopes to achieve the silver award in 2016.
Every school in England can participate in the Modeshift STARS scheme for free, and achieve bronze, silver or gold level awards. It is supported by 52 local authorities and more than 11,000 schools nationally.
