Pupils from Abbey Meads Community School have become the first in the south west to receive a prestigious award for using means other than a car to get to school, and local MP Justin Tomlinson was on hand to congratulate the group.
In collaboration with officers from Swindon Borough Council, the students at Abbey Meads have completed courses on a range of issues including road safety and safe cycling. Some have even taken on the role of ‘travel ambassadors’ in an effort to inspire their classmates to take the message forward.
One of the many positive moves proposed by the pupils is the creation of a “five minute zone”. Although for some parents, driving to school is the only feasible option, the pupils’ plan encourages parents who have to drive to park five minutes away from the school and make the walk in from there. This not only adds an extra burst of exercise into the day but also alleviates congestion in the immediate vicinity of the school.
Students were presented with the gold ‘National Travel to School Award’ by Justin at a special assembly as recognition of the hard work of teachers, parents, but most importantly pupils, in learning about safe and healthy ways to use the roads and drawing up at.
The pupils from Abbey Meads now go forward to the national awards to compete against the other regional winners from across the country, and Justin is backing them for success.
Justin Tomlinson MP said: “It’s a very proud moment for the school, to get the gold award. It shows the commitment, particularly of the parents, who have made those changes to encourage more walking, cycling and scooters. In these high density built up areas it makes a real difference to communities – all too often we can see gridlock which causes great frustration for local residents. It’s something that they complain about in their droves but it’s great to see this school being so proactive. I’m chuffed that they’ve been rewarded for the efforts that they’ve made.”
Bob Buckley, Headteacher at Abbey Meads, said: “It is really the pupils that have put all the effort in and I’m very proud of what they have achieved. It can be difficult for children to have to set the example for adults but increasingly these days that seems to be the world we live in. Like every school in the country we become public enemy number one for a short time in the morning and the afternoon when parents block the roads. So this work is about traffic awareness but also about being healthy and active. We encourage our children to walk, cycle and use scooters – with helmets of course.”
