A number of Wrexham pupils and their families have been experiencing all the benefits of walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting to school over recent months.
Welsh Government has provided funding for eights school in Wrexham to take part in Living Streets’ WOW: Walk to School challenge which encourages using active travel, to and from school.
Six Wrexham schools are currently taking part, with a further two set to launch their challenges shortly.
The six schools already taking part are St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Victoria Community Primary School, Ysgol Rhostyllen, The Rofft School, Ysgol Min y Ddol and Ysgol Cefn Mawr.
It’s a pupil-led initiative where children self-report how they get to school every day using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker. If they travel sustainably (walk/wheel, cycle or scoot) once a week for a month, they get rewarded with a badge.
It’s simple, and children love taking part. Each year, the collectable WOW badges are designed by pupils in an annual badge design competition. On average, WOW schools see a 30% reduction in car journeys taken to the school gate and a 23% increase in walking rates.
Between September 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024, the six Wrexham schools have seen an average:
- Increase of 66% in active travel to school rates
- Decrease of 51% in driving all the way to school
Cllr David A Bithell, Climate Champion, said: “It’s really pleasing to see such positive figures. Active travel leads to better physical, mental and social health, plus it reduces noise pollution, air pollution and carbon emissions. More people embracing active travel will really make a difference against the climate emergency.”
Cllr Phil Wynn, Lead Member for Education, said: “We’re pleased with how the six schools have embraced the challenge, which has led to the fantastic results, and we look forward to another two schools launching their challenges in the near future.”
You can learn more about the WOW: Walk to school challenge on the Living Streets website.
May 2024 New Horizons unit in Wrexham received a glowing Estyn report following a recent inspection
