Author: Rachael Brooks
Godshill Primary Named Sustainable Travel School of the Year
Monday, 7th December, 2009 at 10:40 am, Isle of Wight
We hear that congratulations are in order for an Island primary school who last month scooped a prestigious national award.
We’re told that at a ceremony in Glasgow on 26 November, Godshill Primary has been named ‘Sustainable Travel School of the Year’.
The award comes from a national organisation called Modeshift, who support sustainable and active travel for young people and school communities.
Sustainable school travel plans are something most parents on the Island will be aware of. They aim to encourage pupils (and parents) to consider more eco-friendly ways to get to school.
As well as reducing their carbon footprint, it also has the benefit of increasing healthy activity.
So why Godshill?
The primary school managed to impress the judges enough to beat thousands of schools across the UK, so they really do deserve the credit.
By working together on a range of walking and cycling initiatives, the pupils, staff and governors were amply able to demonstrate their sustainability and links to Healthy Schools initiatives and have managed to reduce car use by a whopping 24%!
Acting Headteacher Brenda Hall said “This has been a real team effort by the whole school community, involving not only the children and staff but the parents and governors as well.
“The children are thrilled that we have won this award and we are very proud of the way they have taken part so enthusiastically in our sustainable travel initiative”
Islandwide praise
However, it wasn’t just Godshill who received praise at the awards ceremony.We understand that the Island can be proud to boast having the highest number of accredited schools on the sustainable travel scheme outside of London.
Isle of Wight Council Cabinet member with responsibility for children Dawn Cousins said “This is tremendous news both for Godshill and the Isle of Wight as a whole. For Godshill to be named number one in the country is a magnificent achievement and is credit to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved including pupils, parents, staff and governors.
“For the Isle of Wight to have the highest number of accredited schools outside London is also a brilliant achievement. This demonstrates that schools across the Island are very keen to do their bit to help the environment while also improving the health and fitness of pupils.
“I am very proud of everyone involved and send my congratulations”
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Shame they had to travel all the way to Glasgow to get the award :-)
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I really do not want to be negative about this achievement because it’s great for the Island…but
what will the position be after the closure of so many primary and middle schools and the bussing and car-transport of kids from places like Chale and Ventnor to…where-ever ?
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Well done to all at Godshill Primary.
Re Steephill Jack’s point, I believe the eventual plan for the larger Godshill amalgamation of primary schools (incorporating Chillerton & Rookley, and Wroxall) won’t actually be in the village of Godshill, so even the Godshill pupils will eventually have further to travel.
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