Minister celebrates Walk to School Week with Liverpool pupils

Minister for Local Transport, Lilian Greenwood MP joined pupils at Greenbank Primary School in Liverpool to celebrate Walk to School Week (Thursday 21 May) and the strides the pupils have been taking to get more active on the journey to school. 

Pupils at Greenbank Primary school take part in WOW – the walk to school challenge from charity Living Streets. WOW 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. 

Only 51 per cent of children aged 5–10-year-olds in England normally walk to school, down from 70 per cent in the 1970s, with 42 per cent being driven.  However, schools taking part in WOW are bucking the trend. 

Since Greenbank Primary School started taking part in WOW, the number of journeys driven all the way to school gate has dropped from 54 per cent to 20 per cent. 

The Minister met with pupils who act as WOW ambassadors to see the WOW Travel Tracker in action. She was then joined by Strider, Living Streets’ mascot, to hand out badges to pupils who have been getting active on the journey to school. 

 

Lilian Greenwood and a pupil with Living Streets' mascot, Strider
Lilian Greenwood and pupils with Living Streets' mascot, Strider

Jane Rickwood, Project Manager, Living Streets said: 

"Walking or wheeling to school is an excellent way for children to boost their health and wellbeing, while helping to reduce congestion and air pollution around the school gates. We’re delighted the Minister was able to meet with Greenbank Primary School pupils to celebrate their inspiring efforts.” 

Greenbank Primary School also benefits from a School Street – which sees their local street closed to traffic at drop off and pick up times. As part of her visit, the Minister was able to see the School Street in action and how it’s enabling more families to walk the last part of their journey to school free from traffic. 

Greenbank Primary School is funded to take part in WOW by Liverpool Council, with other schools across the city region taking part, thanks to support from Active Travel England and the combined authority.