Pupils power ahead to celebrate Walk to School Week
| Published: 9th October 2008 09:50 |
Queens Road Primary School, in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, is promoting a healthier future by taking part in this year's International Walk to School Week.
Headteacher Catherine Wilde, left, and children on the walking bus.
Stockport Council's School Travel Team has worked with the school, which already has two successful walking buses, to come up with a new and exciting way of getting to school.
Pupils were encouraged to take part in an art and design project, which included making a walking bus from cardboard boxes and art materials, and also design posters highlighting the benefits of walking.
Headteacher Catherine Wilde said: "I do believe that the Walking Bus has raised awareness regarding physical activity and the children understand that by walking they are exercising and developing a healthy lifestyle. All the children on both buses really enjoy the walk because, in addition to the exercise, they learn valuable road safety rules, meet and chat with children from other classes and develop an awareness of their local environment '
This year, up to 18,000 children from 77 of 92 Stockport primary schools have been putting their best foot forward and joining thousands of schools throughout the world to highlight the health benefits of walking to school.
Councillor David White, Executive Member for Transportation, said: "The Council is keen to work with school's to promote the benefits of walking and cycling to school to improve pupils' health and help tackle congestion and pollution. I hope the hard work that the pupils have put into this project will encourage more children to find healthier alternatives to get to school."
Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Executive Member for the Environment, added: "By encouraging schools to get involved in events like this we hope that more initiatives such as 'walking buses' and 'Park and Stride' schemes will reduce the amount of car journeys to schools.
Fewer cars on our local roads will also help to improve road safety and reduce congestion and pollution."
The increasingly popular 'Walk to School' passport scheme was also relaunched and children will receive a stamp in their passport if they choose to walk. The scheme, now in its fourth year, was put together by Stockport Council in partnership with surrounding Greater Manchester councils, and has proved to be successful with both teachers and pupils
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