Great Barton Primary Academy and Stowupland High School in Suffolk awarded accreditations after work tackling climate change
Two Suffolk schools have been officially recognised for their efforts in helping tackle climate change.
Great Barton Primary Academy and Stowupland High School have both been awarded Bronze Modeshift Stars.
The scheme encourages schools across England to increase levels of sustainable and active travel among pupils, parents and teachers in a bid to improve their health and well-being.
It comes as part of a county-wide scheme by Suffolk County Council, which is pushing for residents to consider more active and sustainable travel in the hopes congestion and air pollution will also decrease.
Great Barton Primary gained the accreditation by working with councils to relocate and promote a puffin crossing near the school and designing new street signs, and a ‘Park and Stride’ campaign.
Claire Ratley, headteacher at the school, said: “The Junior Road Safety Officers are thrilled to have received the Modeshift Stars Bronze award for all of their hard work.
“They are already planning on a number of future events to continue to build upon the work they have already done so far.
“As a school, we are very conscious of the impact we can have on our environment.
"The work we have done with Modeshift has helped to support our Green Flag Eco-Schools work and is really important to us.”
Stowupland High School was given its Bronze award after a group of sixth form students set up a walking bus to help new Year 7 students build confidence walking to school.
Peter Whear, headteacher, said: “As only the second high school in Suffolk to have been awarded such recognition, we were delighted to receive our official Stars Bronze accreditation.
“Safe, sustainable travel to and from school is so important to students.
"John Milton Academy Trust has a commitment to promoting sustainability in its practice.
"This accreditation marks the school’s and the trust’s ongoing commitment to low carbon, sustainable transport."
Mark Ash, executive director of Growth, Highways and Infrastructure at Suffolk County Council, said: “I am delighted that these Suffolk schools have achieved their accreditations.
"It recognises the hard work of the schools and their local communities.”
Read more: All the latest news from Suffolk
