Northumberland schools win sustainable travel awards

Henry Walker, Policy Advisor at the Department for Transport, presenting the Best Primary School award to staff and students from Allendale Primary School.

At the Modeshift STARS Schools of the Region Awards 2019, Barndale House School took the Local Authority SEND School of the Year accolade.

Barndale House has delivered some amazing initiatives to raise awareness of the benefits of active travel including cycle training and setting up park and strides from the town car parks.

It has also developed its own Marathon Walk initiative which encourages pupils to walk a mile during their lunchtime walking club until they have walked 26 miles and achieved a marathon.

There was further success for Northumberland with Allendale winning best primary school and taking the Regional School of the Year award.

Tweedmouth Middle School won the best middle/secondary school section, while Hareside Primary School in Cramlington was also shortlisted.

Allendale Primary School has worked with Northumberland County Council to improve road safety outside the school and with the North Pennines AONB to create a new path so that pupils can access the school from the other side of the village, so reducing the number of cars outside the school gate and encouraging parents and pupils to ‘park and stride’.

It has also taken part in initiatives like Bikeability, Walk on Wednesdays and Walk to School Week and hold cycle playtimes encouraging pupils to bring their cycles and scooters to school and then use them during the school day.

Tweedmouth Community Middle continues to raise the profile of sustainable travel, taking part in The Big Pedal, Bike Week, Walk to School Week and also being involved in the celebrations for the start of stage 3 of the Tour of Britain from Berwick to Newcastle.

Paul Jones, director of local services at Northumberland County Council said: “These schools are shining examples of how different types of school can all successfully promote sustainable and active travel.

“They have truly embraced the principles of effective travel planning and shown excellence in putting this into practice.

“As well as giving children important life skills their work has resulted in a reduction in the number of cars at the school gates each day.”