Get involved in the Green-Schools National Walk to School Week!

Green-Schools National Walk to School Week begins on Monday, October 2nd for five days. 

This year’s Walk to School Week (WTSW) celebrates walking, active transport, and sustainable solutions to congestion outside schools around Ireland.   

The Green-Schools Travel Programme works in partnership with schools to promote active, sustainable travel on the journey to school. Resources can be found here: https://greenschoolsireland.org/resources/

Green-Schools Travel Officers will be busy working directly with schools next week on WOW Days (Walk on Wednesday), walkability audits, promoting active travel and delivering climate workshops in schools.

These are focused on giving students and the school’s wider community the tools to change habits, build better ones and create a school environment that is accessible and enjoyable for all.  

The programme offers a range of resources to support schools at primary and secondary level, and takes into account the reality that walking the full distance to school is not always possible: Park’n’Stride is an alternative which is also encouraged. 

This week a webinar on Walking Buses hosted by Green-Schools gave attendees ideas and information focused on creating walking buses in their schools.  

Walk to School Week organisers are keen to remind everyone of the changes everyone in a community can make to allow children and young people enjoy active journey to school.

Speeding, idling engines, poor driving behaviour and footpath parking all impact the journey to school. 

A recent report by the EPA has highlighted the impact of poor air quality on urban communities and the Green-Schools Speedweek report in 2021 made clear how few people adhere to speed limits outside schools in Ireland.  

Ciara Norton is the Manager of the Green-Schools Travel Programme: “Next week is about celebrating what’s good about walking, wheeling, or adopting a park ‘n’ stride routine on the journey to school.

“We know that walking to school means families can spend precious time together each morning, that young people can practise independence and chat with their friends and that front of school environments where more people are arriving by an active mode are happier, healthier ones.

“But we need everyone’s help! Slow down, particularly outside schools; park responsibly, being mindful of young people and those with accessibility requirements; and turn off your engine when parked to protect young lungs and the air we all breathe.” 

Walk to School Week is one of four annual week-long call to action events run by the Green-Schools Travel Programme. Clean Air Week follows in November, followed by Scoot to School Week in March and Bike Week in May. 

Walk to School Week is facilitated in just under 500 schools directly by Green-Schools Travel Officers and in almost 2,000 more schools awarded previously for their sustainable and active travel efforts.  

More details on the week can be found here: https://greenschoolsireland.org/walk-to-school-week-2023/