Mary Glindon MP joins pupils in walk to school challenge

Mary Glindon MP (North Tyneside) met pupils from her constituency (Thursday 15 February) to hear about the benefits they are experiencing from walking to school.

Benton Dene Primary School takes part in WOW – the walk to school challenge from charity Living Streets. WOW sees pupils record how they get to school using the interactive WOW Travel Tracker with those who walk, wheel, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to school being awarded a monthly WOW badge. 

Mary Glindon MP and Cllr Hunter visited Benton Dene Primary School in North Tyneside to congratulate pupils for topping the national WOW Top Ten leader board at the end of last year.

In England, 41% of 5–10-year-olds are normally driven to school. However, during International Walk to School Month in October 2023, just 7% of journeys recorded on the WOW Travel Tracker by Benton Dene Primary School pupils were car trips all the way to the school gates.  

The other 93% of journeys recorded were active with 53% being walked all the way. These results saw the school become the first North East school to top Living Streets WOW Top Ten leaderboard for England.

The school has continued to keep up the pace, with an average walk to school rate of 57% since autumn 2023.  

Mary Glindon MP for North Tyneside said:

"It’s been wonderful to meet pupils at Benton Dene Primary School and celebrate their achievements. The children clearly love the WOW challenge and it’s great to hear about all the benefits they are enjoying from walking more.  

“We all need to find ways to make our daily travel more sustainable and walking and wheeling to school is a great place to start. Walking to school also has many health benefits for families and helps children concentrate in the classroom.”

Cynthia Games, Schools Coordinator, Living Streets said: 

“It’s wonderful that pupils from Benton Dene Primary School could meet Mary Glindon MP today and tell her about their success in getting more active on the journey to school. 

“The WOW Top Ten challenge adds a fun competitive element to walking to school and helps support pupils’ health and wellbeing while reducing congestion and pollution around the gates.”

There are currently 57 schools running the WOW programme in the North East of England as part of the Walk To School Outreach 2023/24 project.

Living Streets can provide WOW fully funded to some primary schools across the region. To find out if your school is eligible, complete this form and we will be in touch.