National Award scheme recognises Hampshire schools for promoting sustainable journeys

Two Hampshire schools have been crowned regional winners for encouraging pupils and staff to walk, cycle, scoot or car share to school.

At the Modeshift STARS Regional Awards for the South East, Forest Park School picked up the award for SEND School of the Region and Sarisbury CE Junior School won the award for Primary School of the Region. Both schools will now go through to the national final which will be held in March 2019.

Councillor Rob Humby, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “I send my warmest congratulations to all staff, pupils and parents at these schools for encouraging their school communities to do the school run in ways which reduce local traffic congestion and promote healthier lifestyles. I very much hope they get the recognition they deserve in the forthcoming national round of the Modeshift STARS awards. Travel to school by car alone in Hampshire has already reduced by approximately 20,000 journeys every day in over a decade, and this success is reaffirmed through Hampshire achieving national accreditation through Modeshift STARS.”

Modeshift STARS, which is supported by the Department for Transport, is the national school travel awards scheme that has been established to recognise schools that have demonstrated excellence in supporting walking, cycling and other forms of sustainable travel for the journey to and from school. Across the country, 69 local authorities participate in the scheme representing around 15,000 schools.

Schools were nominated by their local authorities for demonstrating best practice in the promotion of sustainable school travel. The nominated schools in Hampshire were invited to attend the Modeshift STARS Regional Awards event in London where the county winners, as well as the regional winners, were announced.

Modeshift STARS is free for schools to use. It is an online platform that can create a school travel plan and log sustainable travel activities. Schools across Hampshire can work towards the Modeshift STARS accreditation at bronze, silver or gold level. These are awarded based on initiatives and an achieved greater modal shift.

For more information visit www.modeshiftstars.org

Keep up to date with articles, news and publications by following us on our social media channels: