First Surrey schools awarded for excellence in sustainable travel

Hurst Park Primary School and Horley Infant School have become the first two Surrey schools to receive a platinum Modeshift STARS accreditation, the scheme’s highest honour, for providing safe and sustainable travel environments.

Modeshift STARS is a nationally recognised accreditation for schools who successfully work with businesses and local communities to adopt travel plans which promote sustainable and safe journeys.

Hurst Park Primary School increased active travel among pupils and families by over 30%. Initiatives include securing funding for pool bikes enabling those without bikes to still have Bikeability lessons to teach them safe and independent travel, and ran two car-free days, which saw 95% and 98% of pupils arriving actively.

Horley Infant School worked with businesses, local residents and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to implement initiatives which led to a 20% increase in the number of children walking, cycling or scooting to school. The school:

• received 300 free hi-viz jackets from local businesses for children to wear during the darker months
• held a local residents’ forum to help with the ongoing traffic problems and car parking outside the school and houses
• ran an anti-idling campaign outside the school with free parking negotiated with the borough council at the bottom of the road during drop off and collections times.

Cllr Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy said: “Congratulations to Hurst Park Primary and Horley Infant School for their dedication, hard work and commitment to encourage safe and sustainable travel options to families. Many of our schools are doing lots to reduce our carbon footprint and educate children around safe and sustainable travel and I am thrilled that they are getting the recognition”.

Lee Beresford, Travel Plan Coordinator at Hurst Park Primary School said: “Sustainable travel is a high priority for us at Hurst Park. We are thrilled to have received a platinum accreditation for our travel plan”.

Jason Walters, Headteacher at Horley Infant School said: “1 in 4 cars on the road each morning are on the school run and are responsible for half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually in the UK. We needed initiatives to help reduce these statistics and improve the air quality around school. We encouraged pupils to travel by foot or bike, or at least walk the last 10 minutes to school, as this would mean fewer cars outside the school gates”.

For details about the Modeshift STARS programme in Surrey and other road safety and sustainable travel information, visit the Surrey County Council website or contact the Safer Travel Team at schooltravelplans@surreycc.gov.uk.