Cold Harbour Primary School in Milton Keynes is celebrating a significant achievement after being awarded Modeshift STARS Local Authority Primary School of the Year 2024/25 award for their exceptional efforts in improving cycling skills among students.
The school was one of 47 from across the country recognised as demonstrating a commitment to promoting sustainable and active travel.
The school was recognised for its innovative approach and hard work tackling parking issues outside the school whilst also promoting sustainable transport choices to its pupils.
Initiatives included a series of hands-on workshops, cycling safety programs including Bikeability, and participation in national initiatives aimed at increasing pupils’ confidence on two wheels. Children are encouraged to cycle to school regularly through ‘Bike to School’ weeks which helps to reduce car journeys and boost their own health and wellbeing.
The school also worked closely with parents and carers, local cycling groups, and the wider community to support the school's aims and help with safety.
The school has seen an impressive 27% decrease in car use on the home to school journey since 2016. Over the same period, the number of pupils cycling to school has increased from 1% to 9%.
Modeshift STARS is a national awards scheme that was created to recognise the support and initiatives by schools to encourage and support pupils to get to and from school by cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable travel.
“I’m delighted that the hard work by the pupils and staff at the school have been recognised nationally. It really is an amazing achievement for all involved and I hope that other schools will be inspired by their efforts.”
“This is a great example of how we can make changes to switch to sustainable travel options for different journeys and this will help us to achieve our target for MK to be a carbon neutral city by 2030.”
- Councillor Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Transportation
"We are thrilled to have been recognised with the Modeshift STARS award. This award is a testament to the hard work of our students, staff, and parents, who have all embraced the initiative and helped to make cycling a core part of our school ethos."
- Sarah Kotulecki, Headteacher at Cold Harbour Primary School
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