Chiltern Primary School is the first school in Hull to sign up for WOW – the walk to school challenge from Living Streets, which 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.
Pupils around the globe take part in International Walk to School Month each October. Walking to school helps contribute to the 60 active minutes a day recommended by health experts to keep children healthy and happy. Similarly, parents/carers accompanying them benefit from reduced risk of long-term chronic health conditions, such as certain cancers, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
A generation ago, 70 per cent of primary school aged children walked to school, now it’s only around half[1]. Living Streets is working to help more families choose cleaner and healthier ways to travel. WOW schools typically see an increase of 43 per cent in active journeys (where pupils, walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’) and a 59 per cent reduction in cars driving to the school gates.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways at Hull City Council, said: “The council is delighted to be supporting programmes like WOW that help keep children and their families active and healthy and that provide wider benefits like a reduction in car journeys, the easing of congestion and improving things like air quality. It’s great to see how enthusiastic pupils are about walking and wheeling to school.
“I’d like to congratulate the pupils and teachers at Chiltern Primary School for being the first school in Hull to sign up to WOW, so that they can travel to school more sustainably.
“As a council, we are responding to the climate emergency and aspiring to create a fairer and healthier Hull. We look forward to supporting other schools in the city to follow in the footsteps of Chiltern Primary School and sign up for the WOW challenge.”
Catherine Woodhead, chief executive, Living Streets, said: “Walking or wheeling to school is a fun and simple way for children and their families to feel healthy and happy. It’s great for mental wellbeing and reduces congestion, carbon emissions and air pollution.
“I’m delighted that pupils in Hull can now enjoy the benefits of walking to school with WOW.”
Jacqui Marshall, head of school at Chiltern Primary School, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Living Streets to make walking and wheeling to school an accessible option for pupils and their families. I know that pupils at the school are excited to take part in WOW and I’m glad that they will be able to make the most of the health and environmental benefits that come from regular exercise.”
[1] National Travel Survey data: NTS 2023: Travel to and from school – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
