How well did Britian's Summer 2000 Walk to School Week Go?

Very well indeed, according to results from around the country, in spite of the showers! There was national(GMTV) and local TV, Radio and Press coverage. Around one and a half million children were involved in some way.
Some areas recorded big increases in the number of children

walking to school during the week, compared to previous weeks. The most noticeable change in trend is towards compromise. Many parents who normally drive all the way to school agreed to park further away from the school and walk the last bit, thus keeping the area immediately outside school clear of traffic congestion. It is estimated that some ten thousand schools across the UK supported the event. A big thank you to everyone who took part and to those who continue to enjoy the benefits of walking occasionally.

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Here's a taster of what happened during the summer walk to school week 22-26May:

BRIGHTON & HOVE COUNCIL - Clowns on stilts and a monocyclist plus local mascot, BigFoot, were at Coldean Infant School to launch walk to school week. 165 pupils, the staff and the lollipop man took a leisurely walk through the woods. Will this qualify for the longest walking bus?

CROYDON - "We have been involved in the "Let's walk to school" project since 1995. More and more schools have become involved and this year we had just over 50% of schools supporting us. Our first walking bus started off in June and last year we installed "footsteps" leading to a special crossing place outside the Winterbourne School in Thornton Heath. The children love them." Sue Young RSO.

DORSET - 115 schools took part - a record. 30,000+ pupils involved. A new walking bus launched and two schools closed car parks for the day. Loads of fund-raising sponsored walks during the week.

ESSEX - 271 schools took part - another record. Almost 65,000 pupils involved. New walking buses launched, including one led by a clown on a unicycle! GMTV covered the national launch in Chelmsford.

GLASGOW - 25,000 children participated. A camel called Petra from the local zoo was used in the launch. "MIND THE HUMPS/SHIP OF THE DESERT/HOOF IT TO SCHOOL"

HERTFORDSHIRE - 185 schools took part - best yet. 50,000+ pupils. Literacy Hour resource a major incentive for schools to take part.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE - 47 schools took part - best turnout so far. 15,000+ pupils.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE - working with 14 schools across the county on walk to school initiatives. Steering groups formed to assist schools in putting a whole range of measures together to address congestion and pollution issues.

POOLE - Launch of another new walking bus with a member of AFC Bournemouth to join the photocall. Also, temporary road closures near three schools to encourage the park and walk approach.

RUTLAND - 2 primary schools running pilot walking buses.

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA - 41 out of 66 schools involved across the Borough. Walking bus launched with 80-100 children, including walking bus breakfast. Is this the largest walking bus in the country?

SUNDERLAND - 46 schools took part. Launched with 7 schools near Civic Centre to present parchment, calligraphic style pledge to the Mayor. The pledge is that these (200) children will encourage their parents to walk them to school. A healthy brunch preceded a brisk walk back to school.

Here's a summary of what one school in Brighton did...
Press Release from The Stanford I & J School Crocodile, safer routes to school group. "The Stanford Crocodile is a walking bus of about 40 pupils serving these two schools in Brighton, East Sussex. The parent group which runs it is surveying over 650 children about their travel habits.
On Monday 22nd May there were fun assemblies at both schools featuring their seven foot crocodile and local MP David Lepper. This was followed by a competition for pupils to draw and write about their journeys to school. Prizes included Golden Tickets to meet J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame!
On Wednesday, 24th May, it was "Everyone Walk To School Day" where children invited friends, family and anyone famous to walk to school with them. On Thursday, 25th May, there was a celebratory picnic.

Well Done Stanford Crocodile! For further info e-mail: crocodile@onthebeach.co.uk

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Imternational Walk To School Day

More than 10,000 schools in the UK supported the first IWTSD event last year.

Who did what to support Internalional Walk To School Day in Great Britian?

A special 4-way live videoconferencing link formed part of the UK's national launch of IWTSD. A British Primary School linked up with an American Elementary School and was joined by senior Government Minister Keith Hill MP in Westminster.
The students shared their walking to school experiences with the Minister.
Many schools in GB e-mailed their counterparts in Canada and America, to find out what they were doing.

NEWS FROM SCOTLAND
Road Safety Officers in Fife, Scotland, tell us that 54 of their schools supported IWTSD. They appointed Junior Road Safety Officers at each school to co-ordinate the effort. Well Done Fife!

West Dunbartonshire Council
32, out of our 35, Primary schools took part in the October Walk to School Week, including some nursery classes.
Almost 7,000 pupils, in over 230 classes, received the leaflet to take home to their parents, as well as the bookmark and the sticker. They also charted their progress on planners provided for each class.
Evaluation forms were sent out to Headteachers of participating schools. The response was very positive and enthusiastic to participating in future Walk to School events.
Some comments received were:
"In one particular class every single child walked to school on International Walk to School Day."
"Many parents commented that their children insisted on walking."
"Some who normally come by car walked the last part of the journey."
"There was great enthusiasm in recording information on the class chart and in the whole initiative generally."
When asked if they would participate in future Walk to School campaigns, some comments were:
"Yes, it helped reinforce how parking difficulties can be alleviated."
"Yes, any initiative that is encouraging more activity and health awareness is very, very welcome."
So a successful awareness raising campaign that we shall be repeating in 2001.

Dorset County Council A 600 strong walking bus at Lytchett Matravers Primary School in Dorset, launching International Walk To School Day on 4th October 2000. This was followed by an American style breakfast for all the walkers. In the afternoon, children at the school linked up live via video conference with a Government Roads Minister, from Whitehall and students from Westchester Elementary School in Decatur City, Atalanta, USA.

THAME & CHINNOR - OXON
All five primary schools in the area were involved as well as the local Secondary school. The Headteacher of John Hampden school put his best foot forward and met a large group of pupils in the market square for a short walk down the High Street on a busy Wenesday morning. Oxfordshire County Council allocated £120,000 for safer routes to school measures at the schools recently which would encourage more walking and cycling.

PETERBOROUGH WALKS WITH FRED & WILMA!
Northborough school celebrated with a new all weather safer walking route to school, marked by dinosaur footprints. Yabadabadoo!