New way of travelling to school for Harlescott Junior School pupils in Shrewsbury

Children at Harlescott Junior School in Shrewsbury now have a new way of travelling to school – by a walking bus. 

Launched during national Walk to School Week in May 2012, the walking bus is where a group of children are escorted into school by staff volunteers along a safe and suitable walking route.  It provides the children with valuable exercise and teaches them important road safety skills.  It also helps reduce congestion and carbon emissions associated with the school run, and provides an opportunity for working parents to see their children walk to school. 

Wearing hi-visibility jackets the children, and staff who operate the bus, are clearly visible by motorists and make a fantastic advert for the many benefits of walking to school. 

The walking bus starts at 8.30am on Mondays and Wednesdays from Corndon Crescent (by the side entrance of the secondary school) and passes Sundorne Infant School, and has another walking bus stop at The Lantern. 

Adele Thain, walking bus co-ordinator and teacher, said:

“We’ve have had a couple more children join since the start, and after a recent transition meeting for parents at the infant school, we hope to recruit more new customers from September from our new intake.  We’d like to thank the growing number of parents and children involved for supporting our new walking bus.” 

Karen Burgoyne, Shropshire Councillor for Sundorne, said:

“Shropshire has a number of established walking buses and it’s fantastic to see another school take part.  Now more families and children in the Sundorne area are able to benefit from this social travel option, and children can join friends on their walk to school.” 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for transport planning, said:

“This is a fantastic way for the children to keep fit and healthy.  I’m pleased to hear that the walking bus to continuing to attract new recruits and I hope even more will join it for the new school term.

“The walking bus is something I’m encouraging other schools to get involved in and I hope that they will be inspired by what Harlescott Junior School has achieved.”