Oasis Academy Skinner Street pupils stride out to boost health by walking to school

Pupils at a local primary school in the heart of Gillingham, Kent are stepping up for cleaner air as they take part in ‘Walk on Wednesday’, an initiative by Inspire Schools, part of the KM Charity Team.

Oasis Academy Skinner Street, has already been awarded the Green Schools Award with this being their next big step to encourage pupils and parents to walk to school.

‘Walk on Wednesday’ is an official walk to school initiative by the KM Charity Team. Where are encouraged to walk to school on Wednesdays. Children and parents do not travel as part of a formal walk to school scheme like a walking bus, they walk on their own. Any form of green travel is counted including scooting, cycling or park and stride (where you park 5 minutes from the school and walk the rest of the way).

Victoria Richmond, Principal of Oasis Academy Skinner Street, commented saying; “We are proud to be working with The KM Charity Team, this work is part of our wider commitment at Oasis Academy Skinner Street to provide our young people with the opportunities to consider their place in the world, how they can be model citizens, and how they can make a positive contribution.”

Recently, pupils at Oasis Academy Skinner Street won the latest Challenge Day for Medway, which means a group of pupils and staff will celebrate with an award and a walk around Leeds Castle.

Clare McLeod, Teacher at Oasis Academy Skinner Street, commented on the award, saying; “Our children are very keen in taking part in the Walk on Wednesday, each Monday the two classes with the highest green travel methods are awarded our wooden plaques which they are so excited about."

It doesn’t stop there for pupils and staff at the Academy, they also have an eco-squad which are involved with litter picking within the school and were originally involved in setting up a pollution monitoring system which they won an award for.

The Academy also received the ‘Gold’ Green Travel Mark award earlier this year, days before the UK approved a move to toughen targets on fossil fuel pollution, setting a goal of reaching a level of net zero by 2050.