School staff show the way

The annual walk to school week is one of the most successful projects run by Cumbria County Council`s Active Travel Team. Every year more and more young people take up walking and cycling to school and this year broke new records, over 14,000 young people in Cumbria took part saving 23,000 car journeys.

But it’s not just young people, school staff have taken up the challenge too, and adults across Cumbria have been setting a great example.

At Alston Primary even the school nurse took part; whilst Headteacher Mrs Debbie Clarke was proud of taking 92,000 steps

Jenny Harrison, School Administrator from St Oswalds CE Primary, Burneside, says "I managed to stick to walking Monday to Thursday, so 16.8 miles in total".

Valerie Turpin, Teaching Assistant from Valley School took to her bike: "I cycled every day and travelled 37 miles that week".

The Active Travel Team provided schools with classroom packs full of resources to plot the students' progress on a virtual journey from Lands End to John O’ Groats and promote the week of walking to school.

Councillor Tim Knowles, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for transport, said:  “National Walk to School Week provides an opportunity for schools to focus on Active Travel to and from school.  We have had a fantastic response. The week is always very popular and often provides a stepping stone to promote sustainable travel throughout the year.”