The journey to school becomes more active for children in Wirral

As the school term starts and the journeys to and from school return, more of our children will be travelling actively thanks to the efforts of Wirral schools to become Modeshift accredited. 

In Wirral, 24 schools have been awarded with Modeshift accreditation, including 6 Green awards, 15 Bronze awards and 3 Silver. 

Nine Wirral schools are the latest to become accredited in Wirral for all their work encouraging safe, active travel on the journey to and from school and were awarded with certificates at an event in July 2024.

Congratulations to St Andrews CE, Bidston Avenue, Grove Street, Oxton St Saviour’s, St Peter’s CE, Prenton and Castleway primary schools on their Green accreditation and to St George’s and Christ the King Catholic primary schools for their Bronze accreditation. 

Modeshift is a national accreditation scheme for schools who encourage safe and sustainable travel. To become accredited, schools are supported by Active Travel Officers in the council’s Road Safety team, to run a series of initiatives that promote the health and environment benefits of increased walking and wheeling on the journey to and from school – and how to do it safely.

Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum awards are available as part of the accreditation scheme. 

Some of the initiatives schools have undertaken include:

• Scooting Stars - training for Year 1 pupils on how to use their scooter
• Competitions that everyone can take part in such as Bling Your Ride events and Choose your Shoes Days - designed to put the fun back in the journey to and from school
• Identifying and promoting Park and Stride sites – so that families who live too far to walk or wheel all the way to or from school
• Road safety awareness sessions – so that children can be prepared especially for older children who travelling independently

To find out more about the Modeshift initiative, contact roadsafety@wirral.gov.uk