2006
175 schools in the county registered their interest in the campaign and requested the free teachers’ resource pack to assist with the promotion of the event. Additionally the Travel Plan Team worked with a number of schools to host specific campaigns to encourage walking. These activities generated significant press interest during the campaign.
There were many great initiatives established throughout County Durham during International Walk to School Month, four are explained in detail below. The Travel Plan team seeks to develop initiatives during the Walk to School campaigns which can be sustained after the high profile launch takes place. These initiatives add extra value and support the work that the school is already undertaking.
International Walk to School Month was launched at Catchgate Primary School where children took part in Park and Stride from the nearby RAOB Club. Children and parents congregated in the car park and walked to school together. After a special Walk to School assembly with Sam, the County’s Safer Greener Fitter mascot, pupils had the opportunity to compare their journeys to school with American peers via a live internet video link. Pupils linked up with Citrus Elementary School in Orange County, Florida, to describe their journeys to school. The Acting Head Teacher at Catchgate was able to speak to the Principle of Citrus Elementary School and the Mayor of the City of Ocoee, to learn more about the American school system.
Five days later, the initial web link was followed by a television broadcast to the whole of Citrus Elementary School, comprising of 900 pupils. During the broadcast, pupils from Catchgate Primary explained how the journey to school was different for many children in England and the various types of controlled crossings were described. The children learnt that different terms were used for some things; for example, a School Crossing Patrol here is called a Crossing Guard in America. Children also learnt a little about the yellow buses in America and how they operate.
Pupils at St Mary’s RC Primary School, Newton Aycliffe, celebrated International Walk to School Month by decorating shoes! Children were encouraged to look for inspiration on their journeys to school and then create their own designer shoes! Themes relating to autumn colours, trees, animals and people were used in the designs. The best shoes were put on display in a special Walk to School assembly when Sam, the county’s Safer, Greener, Fitter mascot encouraged the children to keep their eyes and ears open on the journey to school.
Pupils from Belmont Infant and Belmont C of E Junior Schools were given a daffodil bulb for taking part in a special event to encourage walking to school. Pupils and parents walked from the car park of B&Q Durham to school each morning as part of International Walk to School Month celebrations. Each day they were joined by two staff members from the store. The flower bulbs, donated by B&Q Durham, were planted in the schools’ grounds. When they bloom next spring they will provide a reminder of the health and environmental benefits of leaving the car behind for the school run.
B&Q Durham have also been encouraging sustainable travel as part of their Workplace Travel Plan. The store has a successful Workplace Travel Plan and was keen to promote the health benefits of active travel to staff during the event.
B&Q manager Andy Watson said “Hopefully the event will have a long-lasting effect and when the flowers bloom next spring more parents will have decided to leave the car behind to enjoy a stroll to school with their children.”
B&Q Durham have given parents permission to continue parking at the store in order to walk the remainder of the journey to the schools.
Red Rose Primary School, Chester-le-Street, received a rousing welcome when they arrived at school after their Park and Stride from the Riverside Cricket Ground. Permission was granted to use the car park facility and Chester-le-Street District Council signposted the way to the meeting point at the Cricket Ground making it convenient for parents. Parents and pupils assembled in the car park and walked to school together. When they arrived, ready to start work for the day, young musicians from The Hermitage Comprehensive School met them in the playground and gave them a fanfare reception to remember! The event created a great deal of interest amongst local residents who came to watch as the children entered school to the sound of the brass band.
