South Gloucestershire schools have been named top of the Modeshift STARS (Sustainable Travel Accreditation and Recognition for Schools) league for large local authority areas.
Modeshift STARS reward schools that have demonstrated excellence in supporting sustainable and active travel. South Gloucestershire Council has been taking part since March 2020 and has moved into top position out of 77 other local authority areas registered across the country in 2024.
Little Stoke Primary School becomes the second school in the district to gain Outstanding accreditation. The school has worked tirelessly over the past two years promoting and encouraging active travel and has achieved over 83% of pupils walking, cycling and scooting to school with car use dropping from 36.17% to 14.43%, since gaining Modeshift accreditation.
Chris Jelf, Deputy Head at Little Stoke Primary School, said: “It has been great to see the whole school community work together to achieve the platinum award. The children have taken an active part in various workshops and initiatives, and we have seen a huge increase in the amount of sustainable, active travel to school.
“Through the awards, we have been able to access additional funding to improve our physical resources and it is lovely to see these used on a daily basis – even with the unpredictable British weather! We hope to continue to embed this work into our curriculum in the future to have a positive impact on the school community.”
There are now 34 South Gloucestershire schools and nurseries accredited, with another school achieving the highest Outstanding award this year. South Gloucestershire now has two schools classed as Outstanding, one Excellent, five Very Good, 22 Good, and four Approved.
South Gloucestershire Council funds infrastructure to help support more active travel for schools that successfully gain accreditation by the end of the year.
Schools will be able to choose from a variety of items such as scooter and cycle storage, lockers for pupils, outdoor parent shelters and seating, depending on the level of accreditation achieved.
Councillor Louise Harris, cabinet member with responsibility for the climate and nature emergency, said: “We are delighted with this news and it’s an honour to be top of the Modeshift STARS league for large local authority areas. It’s an achievement which is down to our fantastic schools and the commitment and engagement of their amazing pupils.
“Not only does the scheme support the environment by reducing car journeys, it encourages children to be healthy and active while reducing school run congestion, and improving air quality.
“Our Road Safety & Sustainable Travel team has been busy supporting individual schools with their active and sustainable transport journeys, and the team and I want to thank those schools for working so hard to encourage more children to walk, cycle or scoot.”