Grammar students embrace active travel

Thursday 01 October 2020

Grammar School students are being encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint by walking or cycling to school at least once a week.

It's introduced an active travel scheme, asking that pupils and teachers ditch the car or bus every Friday.

In return, the students are given house-points.

"Last year, we had our climate change walk and it shows that we do care about our community and we want to keep our air clean," said 16-year-old Blake Carre. "The road etiquette will improve if people do start cycling, because it's not there yet."

Head of Key Stage Four, Chris Taylor, added: "I'm a teacher but I'm also a parent, and from a parent's point of view you want your children to be cycling but you do perceive danger. But the more people who do it, the more it becomes part of our culture and not just a nuisance."

Pictured: The Grammar School is encouraging students to get more active.

Although it hasn't been running long, the initiative has already proven popular with students.

"It cuts down on CO2 emissions and that's always a positive," said Leo Smith, 14. "And it's a pretty good way to save money. The more people we get doing it, the better."

14-year-old Rubi Croft added: "It's a good way to start the day, walking to school. It gets you ready for the challenges ahead and there's definitely not as many traffic-jams, which we have a lot of in Guernsey."

Teachers have also been keen to change their ways.

"The number of staff bikes here on Friday - we were full on our bike racks," said Mr Taylor.

Pictured: Students are being encouraged to walk or cycle on a Friday.

"There's an initial barrier of people saying they need to be more organised that morning, but it's just changing your habits. On my motorbike, I could get here in about six minutes and on my bike it takes ten minutes. That's not much of a difference for the impact it will have."

The scheme was originally going to run throughout the current half term, and then come to a halt until the spring. However, the teachers behind it - Mr Taylor and Chris Bentley - have since decided to carry it on during the winter.

"It shouldn't be a barrier," said Mr Taylor. "It never really gets that cold here. My only concern is the dark nights, but if we get everyone wearing reflective gear and we push that, then it becomes part of our community.

"The weather is no excuse. We can put barriers in the way or we can embrace it."

Pictured top: Chris Taylor and Chris Bentley with some of the students getting involved with the initiative.