Issue 7 Keep updated on all the latest schemes and projects for encouraging safe, sustainable travel to school with West Sussex County Council’s Newsletter for teachers and parents, packed full of information and advice. Also, look out for reports on successful examples achieved by other schools in the county and see what you too, can achieve. For further details on any of the items mentioned in this newsletter, turn to page 4 for who to contact. CAPITAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANS Schools up and down West Sussex are celebrating their success Lieutenant Colonel Tex in a scheme designed to encourage pupils to arrive for lessons on Pemberton,West Sussex foot or by bike instead of the family car. West Sussex County Cabinet Member for Highways Council runs the new Travel Mark scheme to help and encourage and Transport, said:“I would like schools to draw up travel plans. Schools that gain the Mark to congratulate all the schools automatically qualify for Government funding to carry on on their success.“The work that developing their travel plan ideas – that works out at payments of we are actively helping schools typically £10,000 for a secondary school and £5,000 for a to take part in has benefits for primary school. the whole community.“At peak times a very large percentage of traffic on the roads is due to the ‘school run’. Helping parents and Schools that have gained Travel Mark pupils to find other ways of getting to the classroom can play a status so far are: major role in reducing congestion, pollution and parking problems near school gates.“It is also much healthier and at the same time ■ The Imberhorne School, ■ St Mary’s Primary, youngsters develop important road safety skills.” East Grinstead. Bognor Regis. ■ The Oaks First and Middle, ■ North Mundham Primary Crawley. near Chichester. SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN ■ Barnham Primary. ■ Hassocks Infants and ■ Camelsdale First. Windmills Junior. SUCCESS STORIES ■ Lindfield Community ■ Holbrook Primary, Primary. Horsham. ■ Thakeham First School. ■ Birdham Primary near Midhurst CE Primary ■ Rydon Community College, Chichester. School - the new signalised Storrington. ■ Downsbrook Middle, pedestrian crossing has been ■ Bishop Luffa School, Worthing. installed on Petersfield Road Chichester. ■ The Angmering School. in Midhurst.The need for this ■ Bishop Tufnell Infants and ■ Lyndhurst First,Worthing. crossing formed the basis of Bishop Tufnell Junior, ■ Chesswood Middle, the school travel plan at the Felpham. Worthing. school. Children that live ■ Chatsmore High School, ■ Loxwood Primary. near June Lane now have a Worthing. ■ Slinfold Primary. safe walking route to school. Check out the County Council’s website for more information at www.westsussex.gov.uk NEXT WINDOW OF MONITORING SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANS OPPORTUNITY - come on, you know you want to! For those schools that missed out this time around, there is a second As all of those opportunity to receive the capital funding. Schools that have schools that produced school travel plans, which meet the minimum have developed requirements as defined by the West Sussex Travel Mark scheme, a plan know, by March 2005 (at the latest) will become eligible. monitoring forms an Therefore, if you are working on a plan, or already have a plan essential that is not yet accredited, now is the time to get moving. element of the framework. It is also a good time because now there are 3 new School PUPILS AT DURRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL Unfortunately, Travel Advisors to help you through this process. Carolyn, it is often an element that is neglected. And yet, in Michele and Nicky will all be contacting schools in their areas to urge them to take order for us to continue to receive funding for this opportunity.We are happy to advise on any stage of the process as well as school travel plan schemes, we need to justify how suggesting improvements to draft documents.We are also holding two School Travel we spend our money and highlight particular Plan Road Shows this term. Following the success of the events last year we are success stories. planning two events this term, one in Worthing and one in Burgess Hill to provide one-to-one guidance on any issue relating to your school travel plan. Monitoring also forms an important part of the Travel Mark Scheme, and schools simply cannot get It is important to remember that not only will the school travel plan provide access past Level One unless there is evidence of resurveys to this funding stream, but it will also provide a framework for tacking congestion and comparable data.The best way to do this is on- outside the school gate and encourage a reduction in car use for the school journey. line at www.youngtransnet.or.uk/westsussex. School Travel Plan formal submissions need to be made by 17th December 2004, Young transnet is a very useful resource for pupils and 18th March 2005.You can submit an application at any time before this date. and teachers. Survey distribution, collation and analysis can often seem like a very time-consuming For further details on the funding please contact the Safer Routes to School team activity.With Young Transnet it doesn’t have to be. on 01243 756740 or email [email protected]. Either ask your pupils to How students would like to travel to Barnham Primary complete the 100 survey 80 themselves on 60 NEW BUS SERVICE TO HELP line or enter a 44% 40 29% whole class of 20 REDUCE ‘SCHOOL RUN’ 8% 13% data from 1% 1% 4% 0 walk cycle school other train car other West Sussex County Council has launched a new pilot bus service in Crawley to completed paper bus bus questionnaires. link the Pound Hill area of the town with the new Oriel High School at How students would like to travel Either way, the to St John the Baptist Primary Maidenbower.The aim is to reduce the impact of a brand new ‘school run’ on 100 analysis is done already busy roads in the area.The decision was taken by Lieutenant Colonel Tex 80 on-line and Pemberton,West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and 60 56% Transport. He said it would also help put the County Council in a strong position graphs and 40 when Government funds are made available for new and innovative ways of charts like those 19% below are 20 14% providing school transport. 6% 1% 3% 1% created for you 0 walk cycle school other train car other bus bus Pound Hill forms a major catchment area for the new secondary school.When a to use. draft School Travel Plan for Oriel High was drawn up, this route was highlighted to be of concern to parents and students. Only 51 sets of parents said they The site is an excellent database of information. would be willing to send their children to school using the current bus network, Schools can evaluate their progress year on year however, that figure soared to 185 when they were asked whether a direct bus and also compare with other schools, both within between Pound Hill and Maidenbower would make a difference.Therefore the West Sussex and further afield. decision was taken to provide this service, which can also be used by the fare- It’s also important for us.We need to know whether paying public. the numbers of children walking, cycling, using the bus or car sharing has changed during the life of The government is drafting a new School Transport Bill which will allow Local your plan... its that simple... Authorities to change the way in which school transport is provided. From 2005, it will invite transport authorities to put forward bids for national funding to For further information on monitoring, or use of support large scale, innovative school transport schemes.The new pilot scheme the Young Transnet website, please contact in Crawley is part of the County’s preparation to ensure that West Sussex does Amy Carman on 01243 756634 or email not miss out when this funding becomes available. [email protected] FERRING PRIMARY SCHOOL SUCCESS Staff, governors, parents and pupils at Ferring Primary School near The school has nine classes and 253 pupils. It conducted surveys Worthing have reason for a double celebration.The school has not before its travel plan was introduced and follow-up ones next year are only been awarded Travel Mark status, which means it will get its expected to show a big switch away from the car. nationally funded money, it has also been awarded an extra £5,000 after winning the County Council’s own annual School Travel Plan Challenge competition. The judging panel said the overall impression of the school’s travel plan was ‘excellent.’ Their report added:“There is evidence that the plan is thoroughly ingrained within the school and the school community.The links with the parish council are excellent.The plan shows innovation and a real understanding of the issues.” Ferring Headteacher, Sylvia Short said she was delighted at the £5,000 prize from the County Council and paid tribute to parent Cliff Harrison who led the development of the school’s travel plan.The The photos above show school’s travel plan group, which includes pupil representatives, will the presentation of the now decide how to spend the money, and cycle racks may be on their School Travel Plan shopping list. challenge cheque to the school and members of The school’s innovative ideas have included: Ferring’s successful travel plan group with the ■ Creating zones where parents who live a long distance from the ‘Under Your Own Steam’ school can park and then walk their youngsters to lessons.