ENCOURAGING sustainable ways of travelling to school has earned Queensgate Foundation Primary School a special award.

The East Cowes school has received a gold Shift It award for championing active travel — just the second IW school to receive it.

Over the past year, the school has set up a School Travel Action Plan aimed at establishing regular active and sustainable transport events and activities.

As a result, Year 5 and 6 pupils walking to and from school increased by 8.2 per cent, cycling went up by 2.8 per cent, car use by parents went down by three per cent and bike ownership increased by 17 per cent.

Cllr Ian Ward, IW Council cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said: "Well done to Queensgate Primary and its school community for working really hard to make cycling, walking and scooting to and from school part of everyday life for their pupils. They thoroughly deserve this award and their results speak for themselves."

Students also took part in a range of activities, from a competition to design a cycle helmet, to cycling and scooting and triathlon events.

The project is delivered on behalf of the council by Wight Cycle Training.

It is part of a wider programme of transport interventions being carried out by the council over the next two years, using £1.35 million of funding from the Department for Transport.

Queensgate headteacher Sam Sillito said: "I am delighted the school has achieved the Shift It gold award for sustainable travel. We love encouraging the children to be active at school and on the way to and from here. This fits well with our 'Out and About' curriculum and learning outside.

"As well as encouraging children to be active it encourages our parents as well and saves on congestion outside the school at key times. I would like to say a huge thank you to Shift It schools officer Nicky Metcalfe for all her support and commitment to this project, and to the Isle of Wight Council for securing the funding."