Leigh Ingham MP joined pupils in Staffordshire this week (Monday 6 July) with a special walking event to kick start the school’s annual sports week celebrations.

Leigh Ingham MP joined pupils for a special walking event

Pupils from John Wheeldon Primary Academy were joined by the MP for Stafford to take part in a special event to help inspire pupils and their families to walk and wheel to school.

The school currently takes part in WOW – the walk to school challenge from 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 receiving a monthly WOW badge.

Staff and pupils at John Wheeldon Primary Academy have been working with the community to help encourage more families to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot and park and stride to school which promotes healthy habits and reduces congestion at the school gates.

Over 2,000 schools across the UK take part in WOW which sees car journeys to school reduce by an average of 58% and walking and wheeling increase by 18%.

Leigh Ingham MP for Stafford said: 

“I had a fantastic time at John Wheeldon Primary Academy, seeing the benefits of active travel.

“Walking or wheeling to school is a brilliant way for children and their families to build everyday, healthy habits, while helping to reduce congestion and air pollution around the school gates.

“By travelling to school through initiatives like WOW, John Wheeldon Primary Academy is setting a fantastic example in helping to build a healthier, happier and more sustainable future for their community."

Mrs Claire Clarke, Principal at John Wheeldon Primary Academy, said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Leigh Ingham, the MP for Stafford, to our school today.

“We are thrilled to see our pupils embracing the WOW challenge and taking steps to travel to school in more sustainable ways. The initiative has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, encouraging pupils to be more active, energised, and ready for learning each day.

“We are incredibly proud of our pupils and families for all their dedication in helping make our school community greener and safer.”