Posted on Tuesday 6th February 2024
Mr James Simm (Vice Principal), Ryan Procter (School Travel Advisor, Staffordshire County Council) with active travel ambassadors from the school.
A secondary school in Staffordshire has been crowned Modeshift STARS’ ‘School of the region’ for encouraging active and sustainable travel.
STARS is an initiative supported by the Department for Transport and is the national school travel awards scheme. It recognises schools which have demonstrated excellence in promoting sustainable travel to and from school.
St Edwards CofE Academy in Leek, is the first secondary school in the Staffordshire region to be recognised for its efforts to increase levels of walking, cycling and sustainable transport for the journey to school. The school worked closely with the Active School Travel team at Staffordshire County Council.
Since 2019, the academy has made significant improvements to increase sustainable travel and reduce air pollution, by supporting council-led campaigns and making active travel a top priority. They have increased numbers walking and cycling to school year on year from 48 per cent in 2019/20 to 58 per cent in 2023/24.
Representatives from the school will attend the awards ceremony in London on March 20.
Mr James Simm, Interim Vice Principal at St Edwards CofE Academy said:
“We are incredibly honoured to have been named as regional champions.
“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our remarkable travel ambassadors and reflects their commitment to go above and beyond in making a difference to the Academy’s sustainable travel plan.
“We would also like to thank the School Active Travel Team for their help and support over the last five years. Our pupils are incredibly excited to be representing St Edward's Academy at the national awards in London and whatever the outcome, they have done us all and themselves immensely proud.”
Councillor David Williams, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said:
“I’m so proud that one of our schools has won such a prestigious award for increasing sustainable travel to and from school.
“Our primary schools have been crowned for this award in previous years and I’m so pleased to see St Edwards CofE Academy leading the way for secondary schools across the region.
“They are helping us to make a real difference to how people travel to school and I hope their achievement will encourage other schools to choose active travel and follow suit.
“I congratulate them on achieving this fantastic award and wish them the best of luck in the nationals.”
There are 69 local authorities across the country that participate in the scheme, which in turn represents around 15,000 schools.