STARS Spotlight – Pennycross School, Plymouth
Find out how this school became nominated for STARS Primary School of the Year 2020
Behaviour Change seen at the school
Pennycross have worked with Sustrans for years to promote active travel and have introduced several effective measures to ensure inclusivity and that active travel can be enjoyed by all. Pennycross has a low percentage of children driven by car despite its large catchment area.
Top 3 Achievements
- Introducing the ‘Penny Bike’ Loan scheme in conjunction with the ‘Bike Maintenance Club’
- Boasting over 50 pupils on their walking bus that offers a free breakfast on arrival
- High achievers in Big Pedal events and Plymouth City Council active travel competitions.
Why the local authority has nominated this school
The School Travel Champion at Pennycross has worked tirelessly to develop a culture of active travel in this school. As well as the events my Sustrans colleague has run, or supported the school in running, Pennycross has also done a great deal independently to encourage walking, cycling and scooting to school, and to improve road safety and air quality in the local area. Their walking bus, established in 2012, goes from strength to strength and is now very well established. The school ran its own Junior Road Safety Officers scheme to encourage parents who drive to school to park considerately and away from the main entrances. More recently, the Penny Bike scheme, developed and managed by The School Travel Champion, has been a huge success. Parents can book out high quality child and adult bikes, as well as accessories like helmets, trailers, child seats and car racks, for a week’s free loan, enabling families to try cycling together, especially those who don’t have access to their own bikes. This was funded by a Plymouth City Council School Sustainable Travel grant, part of the Plymotion programme.
