Pupils at two Cwmbran schools have been congratulated for the increase in the number of them walking or wheeling to school.
Most schools have problems with traffic congestion around drop-off and pick-up times.
The Federation of Blenheim Road Community and Coed Eva Primary Schools currently hold the top two positions in the active travel table for Torfaen.
Across Wales, Blenheim Road is in fifth position.
Both schools have been working with the council’s active travel team and are part of the Living Streets project.
A school assembly was held on Monday 24 November to celebrate with pupils.
Living Streets
Laura Service, schools coordinator for Living Streets, said 14 per cent of pupils at Blenheim Road were driven to school on 8 September. The survey was repeated on 24 November, and this figure had fallen to eight per cent.
She said they also encouraged parents to “park and stride”, where children are in a car for part of their journey, but park around “ten minutes” away, to enjoy the benefits of exercise, socialising, and reducing congestion near schools.
Peredur Griffiths, member of the Senedd for the South Wales East region and the transport spokesperson for Plaid Cymru, said: “It was wonderful to see how many pupils are going about active travel and the enthusiasm around cycling and walking and all that. It’s brilliant.
“It was fun to see the challenges between the teachers. That helps to keep the enthusiasm up as well.”
Dan Thomas, year six teacher, said: “We’re really proud of the children, making a huge impact. Sometimes when it gets cold, it can be a little bit difficult, but having that little bit of competitive element between the classes has really spurred them on to get those coats on and get out and moving.”
Changing Gearz
Kevin Weaver, from the Changing Gearz project, told pupils they would help fix the school’s broken bikes. Kevin and Tyler, one of the volunteers who repairs bikes, presented the school with a new bike and repair kit. Tyler is now a qualified Velo Tech mechanic thanks to the support, work and qualifications that he’s done through Changing Gearz.
A group of pupils and the guests then walked from Blenheim Road to Coed Eva so pupils there could be thanked.
Some lovely pics and stats from yesterday’s events at Federation of Blenheim Road Community and Coed Eva Primary Schools. It was held to celebrate the increased in pupils who walk or wheel to school as part of WOW- the walk to school challenge from Living Streets.
Pupils use a tracker to record how they get to school with those who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to school being awarded a monthly WOW badge.
Before starting WOW, 28 per cent of pupils at Blenheim Primary were driven all the way to school. That’s now reduced to 14 per cent. The Torfaen average is 49 per cent.
The number of active journeys to school – meaning pupils walked, wheeled, cycled, scooted or used park and stride (where you park and walk the final five to ten minutes) – has increased from 70 per cent to 85 per cent.
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for South Wales East, said: “I was delighted to be asked to take part in this event which highlights the benefits of walking to school. When children are able to walk to school it promotes healthy habits, fitness and helps to reduce air pollution around schools by cutting the number of car journeys.
“The creation of a safer and cleaner environment is in the interests of everyone that attends school. Walking also encourages independence and confidence as well as providing opportunities for children to socialise among each other. It can help with concentration and mood for pupils which ultimately leads to better outcomes in the classroom.”
Laura Service, Project Coordinator for Living Streets, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Peredur Owen Griffiths MS to Cwmbran and for pupils to tell him how much they enjoy taking part in WOW.
“Walking or wheeling all or some of the way to school is a great way to make our streets safer, reduce congestion and clean up our air.”
Paul Keane, Executive Headteacher at Blenheim Primary School and Coed Eva Community Primary Schools said: “WOW – the walk to school challenge has been transformational in changing active travel in our two schools. It makes it such a fun way for our children and classes to compete with themselves – and all in the name of fitter, happier and healthier families, community and planet.
“It’s led to us having the highest percentage of children actively travelling to school in Torfaen but, much more than that, it has changed the way our children and families think about travel and our community – with our schools at the very heart.”
Over 200 primary schools in Wales are benefiting from WOW thanks to funding from the Welsh Government.
📸 Photo credit- Living Streets