News from Peterborough City Council

Eye Primary School is running a competition to determine which class and student is the most sustainable during International Walk to School Month.

 

The school's most sustainable classes in all year groups and one sustainable student will be presented with certificates during a special school assembly on Friday 17 October 2008 for efforts they have demonstrated over a week.

 

Peterborough City Council's Travelchoice team launched International Walk to School Month yesterday (6 October 2008). It aims to raise awareness of the benefits of walking to school and encourage pupils to explore other healthy travel alternatives like cycling, skipping, hopping or jumping.

 

In total, 31 local primary schools will be taking part in the event by encouraging parents and children to swap the family car in the morning and go for a healthy walk to school instead.

 

Donna Turner, the city council's school travel plan co-ordinator, said: "Walk to School Month is an international event designed to highlight and encourage everybody to take part and enjoy the benefits of healthy and sustainable travel to school. The health and environmental benefits of walking outweigh the quick and easy modes of vehicle travel on a typical school run."

 

Students and families taking part in the month's activities are encouraged to have fun on the way to school and stay safe at the same time.

 

Donna added: "Children all around the world are taking part and they are all reminded to ensure they stay safe. For example, they are prompted to wear a helmet if they cycle to school and are always recommended to make the journey to and from school with an adult and not on their own."

 

Other Peterborough schools are running similar events throughout October to promote International Walk to School Month. Children at Gunthorpe Primary School will be hopping or skipping to school while 10 other local primary schools are taking part in an interactive performance about travel in the future and the disadvantages children will potentially face in a changing global environment. The children will star in an imaginary time travel adventure with the Theatre in Education performance titled 'The Road Race'.

 

 

1. A recent survey revealed that 51 per cent of primary school pupils travel to school by car in Peterborough.

 

2. International Walk to School campaign promotes walking activities and the benefits of walking throughout the year, including National Walk to School Month in October, National Bike to School Week in April and Walk to School Week in May.

 

3.In 2008, just over half (52 per cent) of all trips to school by primary school children were made on foot, similar to the proportion in 1995/97 (53 per cent). The proportion of trips by car increased slightly from 38 to 41 per cent, according to a National Travel Survey by the Dept for Transport in 2008.

 

4.Nearly 30 per cent (29.7 per cent) of children aged two to 15 were classed as overweight or obese in 2006 (Dept of Health).

 

5. Obesity is now the second biggest cause of death after Cancer (World Health Organisation).

 

6.Soaring obesity rates have led to an increase in childhood type II diabetes and will lead to more future cases of heart disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. (BMA)

 

7.Four out of 10 boys and six out of 10 girls do not do the recommended minimum of one hour a day of physical activity. (National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2000)

 

8.In the European Union, inactivity is now a greater cause of illness than smoking. (World Health Organisation 2002)

 

9.Walking one mile (1.6km) can burn up at least 100 calories of energy and walking two miles (3.2km) a day, three times a week, can help reduce weight by one pound (0.5kg) every three weeks. (Department of Health)

 

10.For more information about UK Walk to School Week visit www.walktoschool.org.uk