Evendons Primary School in Finchampstead is celebrating a successful evening at the Modeshift South East regional awards after being named ‘Best School in Wokingham’ for going the extra mile promoting the benefits of walking, cycling and scooting to school.
Local primary schools Evendons, The Coombes in Arborfield and Wheatfield in Winnersh were also all nominated for the prestigious ‘School of the Region’ award for their incredible efforts to educate their pupils and parents about active and sustainable travel, encouraging them to ditch the car on the school run, where possible, which is part of the council’s ‘My Journey’ initiative and plays a key role in the council’s efforts to be carbon neutral by 2030.
Laura Shambrook, school secretary and travel plan officer for Evendons Primary School, accepted the award with pupil Stanley Shambrook, on behalf of the school. The award was presented by David Elliot Cooper from Histrionics on behalf of Modeshift, at the prestigious event last month at the Everyman Cinema in Kings Cross, London.
The three schools nominated for regional awards, together with Gorse Ride Junior School, Highwood Primary School, Oaklands Junior and Walter Infants, have this year also been presented with the Modeshift STARS bronze certificates for demonstrating excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel.
To achieve accreditation the schools had to ask pupils how they get to school and put in place initiatives to increase the numbers of children walking, scooting and cycling to school. They also had to consult the school leadership team, governors and Wokingham Borough Council to identify any travel or transport issues.
The schools have taken part in at least ten sustainable travel events including road safety shows, scooter and bikeability training, as well as teaching their pupils about the benefits of active travel and how to safely travel in the winter.
Evendons Primary School has continued to show great commitment to promoting sustainable travel and tackling climate change, having earned silver accreditation for their Modeshift STARS travel plan and completed 42 sustainable travel initiatives
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Modeshift stars is a national awards scheme providing recognition to the schools who demonstrate excellence in promoting active and sustainable travel.
My Journey encourages schools across Wokingham Borough to get involved and offers a £2,000 grant to schools which achieve a new Modeshift stars accreditation for spending on further promotion of active and sustainable travel to and from school. For further information visit www.myjourneywokingham.com
