Southwark schools reach Daily Mile milestone
8 February 2024
90 per cent of schools in Southwark are signed up to the Daily Mile scheme - one of the highest proportions in England, according to a new Local Government Association report.
The Daily Mile encourages children to run, wheel or walk for fifteen minutes. It gets children outside and active with their friends and teachers, refreshed for further learning.
“It’s great to see so many of our schools are getting involved,” said Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets. “Through our ambitious Streets for People strategy we’re doing a huge amount to improve walking and cycling routes to schools, promoting healthy travel options like walking, cycling and wheeling.”
There are 28 School Streets schemes in place across Southwark – these timed closures reduce congestion, and therefore air pollution, outside schools, making it safer for parents and pupils to walk, cycle, scoot or use other greener ways to get to school.
Recent improvements on Toulmin Street, outside Charles Dickens School, include wider footways and surface improvements to make it easier for pushchairs, cycling and wheelchairs. The street is also closed to cars at drop-off and pick-up times to make it safer for walking and cycling.
The school’s Assistant Head Teacher for Early Years and Sustainability, Daniela Jamois, said: “As an eco-school, we actively encourage walking, cycling and scooting to school and many of our students report they would like a reduction of car use in the area to improve the quality of the air they are breathing. We’re very happy with the Toulmin Street timed closures, which make dropping off and collecting children safe and relaxed.”
Deputy Headteacher, David Windle, added: “With very many tiny children accessing our site these improvements and temporary closures make a real difference to how safe our families feel. It also enables school staff to manage these busy periods of the day much more effectively.”
Page last updated: 08 February 2024
