Sustrans Gold Award for a Shrewsbury school
News from our partners Sustrans
Suitably, in this week of remembrance, The Wilfred Owen School in Shrewsbury, named after the notable World War I Shropshire poet, will be receiving a much-coveted national award.
The primary school has become the first in Shropshire to achieve a Sustrans Gold School Mark. The award, from walking and cycling charity Sustrans, aims to encourage schools to use training and promotion to help families walk, cycle or scoot to school, and for everyone in the school community to get involved.
Jess Holohan, Sustrans Bike It Officer in Shrewsbury, who works with the school and who will be presenting the award, said:
“The Wilfred Owen School is excellent. They encourage cycling and scooting to school for every age, and offer lots of fun activities to ensure everyone is kept safe on their journey to school. The children love being involved with Sustrans activities and being given the opportunity to choose a healthier way of travelling to school.”
Jess is employed by Sustrans to carry out Bike It training locally, but is funded and supported in her work by Shropshire Council.
The primary school has won the award in recognition of its ongoing commitment to promoting active and sustainable travel to school for a number of years, which has led to a significant change in the school for both pupils and staff.
Amy Miller, teacher, a school Bike It Champion, said:
“We have been involved in Bike It now for three years. We wanted to encourage road safety with our children, as many of them enjoy being out and about on their bikes and scooters, so we wanted to help them to improve their skills. We are very keen to make sure as many of our children as possible have the opportunity to travel to school by sustainable means, so have worked hard to encourage this and we have put a lot of time into classroom activities to link in with the Bike It project.”
Jess and staff from the school are running a special Be Bright day on Friday 14 November 2014, to promote staying visible and safe during the dark winter months. During the Be Bright Assembly at 10.15am, Jess will present the school with the special Gold Award certificate and plaque, and will then be in school all day helping with other activities.
