Monday 16th May 2011 - Published by Lara Page - Account Manager
Cranbrook Puts its Best Foot Forward
Children at an independent school are discovering the value of exercise and caring for the environment, as they take part in the Walk to School Week.
Throughout the week (16-20 May), teachers at Cranbrook, in Ilford, Essex, will be recording the distance that pupils in the Preparatory; Junior and Grammar schools travel by public transport, cycling and by walking. The class that clocks up the highest number of miles will be rewarded with a coveted trophy, in an awards ceremony, held at a school assembly.
The competition is part of the Cranbrook’s ongoing commitment to encourage staff, pupils and parents to walk, cycle or use public transport to travel to school.
Cranbrook also takes part in the Living Streets' ‘Walk Once a Week’ (WoW) scheme, which rewards children who walk to school with collectable pin badges. Children participating can earn a new pin badge for each month in the school year. The badge for each month is designed by children, and selected from the entries in the national art competition.
Pupils from Cranbrook have submitted over 50 entries to the competition, including a winning design by a Year 8 pupil, Ryan, who explained his commitment to the walk to school initiative.
The 12-year-old said: “Walk to School Week is vital, because it teaches the importance of learning respect for the environment and others. We take advantage of living in this world, but if we keep on going the way we are right now, this beautiful world we live in won’t be very pleasant anymore.”
Through its travel plan, Cranbrook aims to improve safety for pupils on their journey to school, reduce congestion around the school and encourage more parents, children and staff to walk, cycle or use public transport to get to school.
Ends
Winning picture by Ryan Bryan, aged 12
