In May, students from across the country joined Walk to School Week. Ian Levy MP for Blyth Valley met with pupils from Malvin’s Close Academy as they walked to school and learned how students are finding ways to be active on the school run. Malvin’s is part of the Wise Academies Trust.
Walk to School Week 2023
Walk to School Week is organised by Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking as part of their National Walking Month campaign each May. Families are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.
As part of the Walk to School Week, Living Streets have released a pupil-led initiative where children self-report how they get to school every day using an interactive tracker. The initiative – named ‘WOW’ – rewards students with badges if they travel sustainably (walk/wheel, cycle or scoot) once a week for a month. On average, WOW schools see a 30% reduction in car journeys taken to the school gate and a 23% increase in walking rates.
Malvin’s Close Academy
Malvin’s Close Academy took part in WOW using the interactive Travel Tracker. Ian Levy MP joined pupils from his constituency to celebrate the initiative. Ian said:
“I had a lovely morning talking to pupils and teachers at Malvin’s Close Academy as part of Walk to School Week and hearing about their efforts to walk to school. I’m very impressed to see how the school is working with Living Streets to make the walk to school an accessible option for pupils and their families. I’m sure this will motivate other children to make the most of the physical and mental health and environmental benefits that come from walking more.”
Stephen Edwards, Chief Executive of Living Streets added:
“It’s great that Ian Levy MP was able to join pupils to celebrate Walk to School Week and to hear about the fantastic steps they are taking to get more active all year-round. Choosing to walk or wheel to school helps children meet the recommended 60 minutes of exercise a day. It also reduces traffic, congestion and carbon emissions, which leads to improved air quality.”
There are currently 19 schools running the WOW programme in Northumberland.
Nationally, 43 per cent of 5–10-year-olds are driven to school. However, just 22 per cent of journeys recorded on the WOW Travel Tracker by pupils at Malvin’s Close Academy were car trips all the way to the school gates.
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East commented:
“Well done to Malvin’s Close Academy for getting involved in such a worthwhile initiative! Its great that Ian Levy MP got involved and helped promote the event within the community.”
Malvin’s Close Academy is a Schools North East Partner School. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School Programme click here.
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