Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper MS, steps up for International Walk to School Month
Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper MS, met children in Barry yesterday (Thursday 15 October) to celebrate International Walk to School Month.
Ysgol Gynradd Parc Jenner Park Primary School takes part in WOW – the walk to school challenge from Living Streets, which sees pupils record how they get to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker with those who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to school being awarded a monthly WOW badge.
Since starting WOW in 2022, Ysgol Gynradd Parc Jenner Park Primary School has seen the number of pupils driven all the way to school reduce by 12 percentage points. Meanwhile, the number of families who Park and Stride (where pupils who live far away can walk or wheel the final ten minutes of the school journey) has increased by 18 percentage points.
Mark Hooper MS, met pupils and walked to the school for a demonstration of the WOW Travel Tracker and a special International Walk to School Month assembly.
Living Streets Cymru is encouraging families to leave the car at home for International Walk to School Month this October. Throughout the month, the charity is sharing ways to get involved and celebrate the simple difference that walking or wheeling to school can make.
Across Wales, around 51 per cent of primary school children are driven to school by car or van. However, the picture is different for schools taking part in WOW. At the end of the last project year (2025-26), just 28 per cent of journeys logged on the WOW Travel Tracker were car trips all the way to the school gate.
In Wales, over 200 primary schools are benefiting from WOW, thanks to funding from the Welsh Government. Living Streets works with over 2,000 schools across the UK to deliver its walk to school programme. The project highlights the positive impact active travel investment has on local communities.
Deputy Minister for Transport, Mark Hooper MS, said:
“I really enjoyed meeting pupils from Ysgol Gynradd Parc Jenner Park Primary School to celebrate International Walk to School Month. It’s been inspiring to hear how pupils are learning healthy habits thanks to WOW - the walk to school challenge.
“Walking and wheeling to school is great for our wellbeing and it helps prepare pupils for a day of learning. And of course, leaving the car at home also helps to improve air quality and makes the streets outside our schools safer for pupils and their families.”
Deryn Howell, Schools Coordinator Wales for Living Streets, said:
“It was such a pleasure to welcome Mark Hooper MS to Barry today and for pupils to tell him how much they’re benefitting from WOW.
“In Wales, primary schools taking part in WOW have seen a 56 per cent increase in active journeys2. It’s wonderful to see the positive difference that’s making for families.”
Mrs Reaney, Teacher at Ysgol Gynradd Parc Jenner Park Primary School, said:
"The pupils have had a fantastic morning meeting Mark Hooper MS and explaining why they enjoy walking and wheeling to school with WOW.
“It’s a real pleasure to see the children’s enthusiasm for the programme and the positive difference it makes to the school community.
“It helps pupils arrive to school feeling calmer and better able to concentrate in the classroom – and even better, they feel proud of themselves for taking these steps to reduce congestion and improve safety and air quality outside the school gates.”
About the author
Sarah Philpott
Strategic Communications Manager, Living Streets / [email protected]