Schools make one small step for mankind
Enjoy Walk to School Week with Great Space Walk 19-23 May
Children in Oxfordshire are leaping into walk to school week (19 - 23 May) with a space-themed challenge to help build healthy habits for life.
Oxfordshire County Council is funding 29 primary schools across the county to take part in the week as part of an annual walk to school challenge delivered by Living Streets. This year, schools are launching ‘the great space walk’ and it will celebrate five themes: mental health, physical health, sustainability, road safety, and community.
Students can walk, wheel, or cycle to school every day, with each day this week focusing on one of the celebration themes, highlighting the benefits associated with these journey choices.
Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "The journey to school can set children up for a lifetime. This week will get families thinking about the benefits of everyday active journeys, which can have such wide reaching positive impacts.
“The great space walk is a very exciting theme, which will no doubt inspire young imaginations and create opportunities for fun together with family and friends.”
It’s not just about walking to school, students can also take part in playground activities, physical activity lunch clubs, and even class walks.
Schools that join the walk to school challenges see an average 23 per cent increase in active travel journeys to school and a 30 per cent reduction in reliance on private car journeys to school.
Chesterton Primary School in Bicester is one of the schools participating in the challenge.
Mr. Horner, Headteacher of Chesterton Primary School, said: "We always try to participate in walk to school week, as it fits in with our wider goals regarding sustainability and the environment. Even though some of our families can't walk to school due to the nature of our catchment area, we show them that there are still alternatives to driving from door to door. The pupils (and staff) always enjoy being part of the challenges and competitions that we set, and families regularly feedback that they have really enjoyed the experience."
Students might pretend to have moon boots on when walking into school, look for exciting new life-forms, start the walk with "one small step", or take part in a solar system hunt on their way to the classroom.
More information about the national walk to school week challenge is available on Living Streets’ website, with some free resources to promote the benefits of walking to school, including a booklet, a diary, and a free family walk to school kit.
Ends
For more information about this release contact the Oxfordshire County Council communications team on 01865 323870 or email press.office@oxfordshire.gov.uk
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Here's what Cutteslowe Primary School student council shared about what they like about walking or wheeling to school:
