On Friday 9th July, we held our 6th annual National STARS School Travel Awards event.
Despite not being able to hold the meeting in-person, we were so pleased to see so many pupils, school staff, Local Authority representatives and Modeshift Partners log in and take part in our virtual event, hosted by the ever-amazing Dave from Histrionics. We also had four wonderful representatives from the Department for Transport, who announced our winning schools.
As always, all of our entries were of such a high standard, and we thank all the schools that have been nominated for their continued support in the promotion of sustainable and active travel. We would like to congratulate you all on the outstanding campaigns, initiatives and competitions you have delivered and say a special well-done to all of the winners of this year’s awards.
National STARS Early Years Establishment of the Year 2020/21
The Brighton Waldorf School – Early Years
Brighton and Hove Council
Families with children at this school travel from a very wide area, coming from surrounding counties, as well as from all areas across the city. The setting has worked hard to promote Park & Stride, which has increased significantly by 12 percentage points (from 7% – 19%) over the 3 years they have been working on STARS. There has also been an increase in active travel (walking, scooting & cycling) by 7 percentage points over this time (from 29% – 36%). In the first 2 years of working on STARS they halved the car use, from 31% to 15%. The school has worked tirelessly to embed STARS into it’s practices, promoting park and stride and achieving fantastic increases in active travel.
National STARS SEND School of the Year 2020/21
Barndale House School
Northumberland County Council
This setting caters for pupils from 2-19 with a diverse range of needs and abilities. The school is in a rural area with most pupils either using school transport (62%) or travelling by private car (16%) and would not be able to change their mode of travel. The school is also seeking to change parents and staff attitudes and behaviour by encouraging car sharing and park and stride from the town centre car parks which are only a short walk away. The school has worked hard to raise awareness of pollution and it’s effects promoting simple steps which pupils parents and staff can take to improve air quality nearby.
National STARS Secondary School of the Year 2020/21
School name: Tweedmouth Community Middle School
Local Authority: Northumberland County Council
This school has been recognised for their continuing work to encourage active travel and in particular cycling to school. School staff including the School Travel Champion and Headteacher are committed to delivering a programme of initiatives and embedding these into the school year, as well as delivering a wide range of other initiatives such as Dr Bikes, Bikers Breakfasts, led bike rides as well as encouraging take up of Bikeability, setting up a Park and Stride and promoting road safety to pupils. The school’s Green Ambassadors are involved in all the school’s sustainable travel initiatives, helping run the Big Pedal, bikers’ breakfasts and cycle counts. As well as acting as positive role models for the rest of the school, they have also produced films to showcase their achievements to pupils and parents.
National STARS Primary School of the Year 2020/21
School name: Bishop Wood Church of England Junior School
Local Authority: Hertfordshire County Council
The school has continually sustained its commitment to active travel, and this is reflected in the fact they have maintained Gold Modeshift STARS accreditation for a second time. Bishop Wood have independently run pedestrian skills training, which school staff have delivered for more than 12 years. Since the school started working on their Modeshift STARS travel plan many years ago, by promoting active travel they have maintained very low car use for the school journey, with car use averaging around 3-5%. Walking numbers have also been consistently in the 70-75% region.
Well done to all our winners!
