Pupils stride out to be healthy and know their city

DERBY pupils sang as they strode around the city yesterday to mark the launch of a new walk-to-school project.

Stride With Pride aims to get pupils out of cars and walking to lessons so they can be healthier.

green scheme: Children from Ashgate Primary, Markeaton Primary and St James' Junior schools joined Ruth Hill, School Travel Plan Co-ordinator at Derby Council (with guitar), Mayoress Lisa Marshall and others to walk through Derby as part of the Stride with Pride initiative. Pupils who walk to school will be able to record their achievement each day on a map (left) featuring Derby's landmarks such as the Cathedral and Quad.

Pupils who walk to school will be able to record their achievement each day on a map featuring Derby landmarks such as the Cathedral, Quad, Silk Mill and Assembly Rooms.

For each five children that walk from a class, the counter on the map can be moved one section.

Ruth Hill has put the project together on behalf of the city's school travel plan team and has also written a song to support it.

She said within schools, classes can compete against each other to get right round the city on the map by encouraging more children to walk to school each day.

"Schools will also be encouraged to teach their pupils more about the landmarks on the map and even take them for walks around the city visiting some of them," she said.

"The first three schools have signed up to the project and have recorded the song on a CD, which is available to all schools as part of the project information pack."

Among 15 pupils taking part in yesterday's inaugural stride were pupils from Ashgate Primary, Markeaton Primary and St James' Junior schools, together with Mayoress Lisa Marshall.

They had previously met at the Voicebox in Foreman Street to record the CD and happily performed around the city for passers-by yesterday

Caroline Owen, deputy head at St James', said everyone had a great time looking at some of Derby's landmarks.

She said: "I like the fact that this project is encouraging pupils to get to know their city.

"Encouraging them to walk more is a bonus and will act as an incentive to many who are brought to school by car."

Pupil Auriel Mabo, 10, enjoyed the walk. "I also liked recording the song and singing it to everyone," she said.

Maria Lammond, acting head at Ashgate Primary, said: "This is a fun way to protect the environment and to get children involved at a young age."

Councillor Les Allen, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Stride with Pride is a great way to start the New Year, encouraging pupils to become healthier."