Pupils and staff at a Bath & North East Somerset school have been recognised for their exemplar achievements to encourage more active, safer and sustainable ways to travel.  

Chew Stoke Church School represented the South West region at the National STARS School Travel Awards event in London last week, competing against five other primary schools for the National Award for Primary School of the Year.

Modeshift STARS recognises and rewards schools that demonstrate excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel.

Chew Stoke Church School has achieved Platinum Accreditation the highest level of accreditation for the last two years for its School Travel Plan initiatives and is the STARS South West Primary School of the Region 2022/23. Deputy head, Vicki Hennessy and teacher, Carole Hope attended the event with four students.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “Chew Stoke Church School is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a whole school, supported by a committed group of parents and teachers, works together to support sustainable travel. It is an exemplar school, leading the way in changing behaviour and championing healthy and active ways to travel to and from school, as well as embedding those habits for pupils in later life.”

Vicki Hennessy, deputy head at Chew Stoke Church School said: “Modeshift STARS has become an integral part of everything we do at Chew Stoke Church School and in our wider community. We have created a programme of events and a curriculum which year-on-year builds on children’s prior knowledge and promotes the importance of sustainable and active travel and its benefit to our health and our environment.

“The drive for Modeshift STARS across the school is led by the PE Council, which supports me with the planning, assessment and evaluation of the teaching of PE in school. The council, made up of children representing each class, lead on assemblies, competitions and supporting adults to run special events such as, Odd Socks Walk to School Day and Bike and Scooter Week. Many groups across the school play an active role in supporting the PE Council including Governors, PTA and SLT. These groups are regularly updated on our accreditation progress and are included in the planning initiatives.”

Bath & North East Somerset Council provides support to schools to achieve their Modeshift STARS award. Email the council’s School Travel Plan Officer,  [email protected]

Schools can find more information about the Modeshift STARS scheme on their website.