Oxfordshire schools urged to take part in walking challenge

Oxfordshire County Council has teamed up with Living Streets to offer free resources and support to schools that join the WOW Walk to School challenge.

The initiative encourages children and their parents or carers to walk to school at least once a week.

Schools that have taken part in the challenge have reported a 23 per cent increase in active travel journeys to school and a 30 per cent reduction in reliance on private car journeys.

Schools in Oxfordshire that have not tried the Walk to School challenge in the last three years can sign up until November 25 to secure one of 20 fully funded places for the 2024/25 challenge.

The initiative aims to improve physical health by increasing activity levels and energising pupils in the mornings, setting them up to focus better on their studies.

A key stage one teacher from Chilton Primary School in South Oxfordshire said: "The children love coming in and recording how they have travelled to school and there is always great excitement when it’s ‘badge time’ at the end of the month.

"Many children enjoy collecting all the badges and it encourages them to try to ‘park and stride’ to school rather than drive in order to be eligible."

Pupils earn monthly collectable badges, each with a unique transportation design, for walking, wheeling, cycling, scooting, or 'parking-and-striding' to school at least once a week.

Councillor John Howson, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for children, education, and young people's services, said: "Walking, wheeling, cycling, or scooting to school is a fun and refreshing start to the day.

Councillor John Howson (Image: Newsquest) "It helps to boost a positive bond with friends and family, spark interest and curiosity in the world around us, and of course helps us feel a little bit more healthy and energised.

"It’s wonderful to hear that this year the challenge is to fill the school journey with your imagination and I’m looking forward to hearing about the exciting travels - commanding a Viking longboat, steering a super-powered magic scooter, or riding a bus with the floor made of lava…the possibilities are endless."

Walk to School Challenge schools receive a full welcome pack with resources, class guides, and a poster, as well as support to help begin the challenge for their school, and a virtual launch assembly to introduce the challenge to pupils.

The schools also get access to a Walk to School travel tracker which works with education whiteboards, computers, and iPads.