Buckinghamshire Best foot forward wins schools national acclaim

They have won newly-achieved accreditation under the Modeshift STARS scheme, sponsored by the Department for Transport, for encouraging children and young people to walk, pedal and scoot to school.

The 12 schools achieving bronze accreditation for the first time, join 31 Buckinghamshire schools involved in the three-level scheme to promote active, safe and sustainable travel by families making the school journey.

To gain accreditation, each school develops a programme that:

Encourages pupils to be more active through cycling and walking,

Identifies traffic and transport issues for the school

Reduce the number of cars outside the school to improve air quality and help reduce the impact of school traffic on other road users

One school - Elangeni, in Amersham - won promotion from silver to gold level, by increasing their levels of activity, while 12 maintained their gold level, six maintained silver and 12 maintained bronze for another year.

Nick Naylor, Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport praised the schools' effort and commitment: "These awards really do count for a great deal in helping children to understand the value of walking or cycling to and from school."

Schools that have been newly-accredited at bronze level include:

Bedgrove Infant, Aylesbury, Bedgrove Junior, Aylesbury; Chartridge Combined; Cheddington Combined; Dropmore Infant; Green Ridge Primary Academy, Aylesbury; Holmer Green Senior; Marsh Gibbon CE Primary; Sir Henry Floyd Grammar, Aylesbury; St Mary's CE Primary, Aylesbury; St Michael's Catholic, Aylesbury; Stokenchurch Primary.

Schools maintaining bronze level include:

The Amersham School; Broughton Junior, Aylesbury; Chiltern Hills Secondary Academy, Chesham; George Grenville Primary Academy, Buckingham; Ibstone CE Primary; Maids Moreton CE Primary; Royal Latin Grammar, Buckingham; St Michael's Catholic, High Wycombe; The Vale Federation of Special Schools, Aylesbury; Thomas Hickman Primary, Aylesbury; Turnfurlong Infant, Aylesbury; Widmer End Combined.

Schools maintaining silver level include:

Dorney Primary; Holmer Green Junior; Pipers Corner, Great Kingshill; Waddesdon Primary; Whitchurch Combined; Steeple Claydon Primary.

Schools maintaining gold level include:

St Louis Catholic Primary, Aylesbury; St Mary's and All Saints Primary, Beaconsfield; Iver Junior; Wendover CE Junior; Ashmead Combined, Aylesbury; Haddenham St Mary's CE Infant; High March, Beaconsfield; Hughenden Primary; Stoke Mandeville Combined; Thorpe House, Gerrards Cross; Roundwood Primary, Tingewck/Gawcott; Long Crendon Primary.