Pupils celebrate International Walk to School Month

Pupils across Northumberland have been taking part in International Walk to School Month, with over 6,000 pupils from 37 schools walking, cycling or scooting to school. 

Walk to School Month is organised by the UK charity Living Streets and sees pupils celebrate the joys of walking and wheeling to school. This year pupils were asked to take on The Great Space Walk and complete a 5 day walking challenge during the month.  

Pupils meet various colourful intergalactic friends along the way, learning about the important reasons to walk or wheel to school and its benefits for individuals, communities and the planet!   

Pupils from Cramlington Eastlea Primary Brainwaves group donned their space suits to meet the challenge and persuade other pupils to leave the car at home, giving out stickers every morning to those who had walked or wheeled to school. 

Head teacher Emma Beeston said: “Each year we are keen to support the ‘Walk to School’ campaign and Brainwaves, our school council, love taking the lead and handing out stickers to the children who walk or come on their bike or scooter.   

“We all recognise how important it is for children to be active and walking or wheeling to school is the best way to start the day.  If they live too far away our families are encouraged to ‘park and stride’ instead and the children find that this is a great option which increases their activity while at the same time reducing parking congestion at the school gates.” 

Northumberland County Council’s Big Northumberland Gear Change campaign aims to get people thinking twice before jumping in the car, given that a third of all trips made in the county are less than 5km. 

If we all swapped some of our regular car journeys to walking or wheeling, we could improve our physical and mental health, while also helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions. 

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson, Cabinet member for Inspiring Young People said: “In Northumberland, Walk to School Month is a key chance to highlight the importance of sustainable travel for the journey to school and also reduce congestion at the school gate.  

“We have many schools across the county taking part and it’s inspiring to hear how passionate our young people are about promoting active travel.” 

To find out more visit: https://www.northumberlandgearchange.co.uk