A NUMBER of Wrexham pupils and their families have been experiencing all the benefits of walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting to school over recent months.

The Welsh Government has provided funding for eights school in Wrexham to take part in Living Streets’ WOW: Walk to School challenge which encourages using active travel, to and from school.

New statistics for 2023/24 have revealed that the eight schools in Wrexham have taken place and have seen an average:

  • Increase of 68% in active travel to school rates

  • Decrease of 74% in driving all the way to school

The WOW challenge will now begin for September 2024 until July 2025.

Six of the schools taking part are St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Victoria Community Primary School, Ysgol Rhostyllen, The Rofft School, Ysgol Min y Ddol and Ysgol Cefn Mawr.

It’s a pupil-led initiative where children self-report how they get to school every day using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker. If they travel sustainably (walk/wheel, cycle or scoot) once a week for a month, they get rewarded with a badge.

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It’s simple, and children love taking part. Each year, the collectable WOW badges are designed by pupils in an annual badge design competition. On average, WOW schools see a 30% reduction in car journeys taken to the school gate and a 23% increase in walking rates.

Cllr David A Bithell, Climate Champion, said: “It’s really pleasing to see such positive figures. Active travel leads to better physical, mental and social health, plus it reduces noise pollution, air pollution and carbon emissions. More people embracing active travel will really make a difference against the climate emergency.”

Cllr Phil Wynn, Lead Member for Education, said: “We’re pleased with how the schools have embraced the challenge, which has led to the fantastic results, and we look forward to another two schools launching their challenges in the near future.”