Active Travel award for Croesty Primary

 

Croesty Primary has become the latest school in Bridgend County Borough to earn the Bronze Active Travel Award from Sustrans Cymru in honour of the way pupils and parents are choosing two wheels over four to make the daily school run.

 

The number of children who usually travel to school by car has fallen by 23 per cent over the last two years.

During the same period of time, the percentage of pupils cycling to school has quadrupled from six per cent to 24 per cent, while there has been a surge in the percentage of pupils scooting to school – up from two per cent to 26 per cent.
 

The school has a group of enthusiastic pupils who promote the benefits of Sustran Cymru’s Active Journeys programme among their classmates, while the school celebrate ‘Wheelie Wednesday’ every week to encourage pupils to cycle or scoot more and have also held ‘Glitz your bike’ and ‘Glitz your scooter’ days where youngsters can add a bit of bling to their wheels!

 

Thanks to successful grant applications from Bridgend County Borough Council, more than £1.5m worth of Active Travel improvements have been made in Pencoed over the past three years.

 

The investment has gone into numerous road safety measures such as creating several new paths that can be shared by walkers and cyclists.

 

Active Travel will be further boosted in the area by the recent announcement that Bridgend County Borough Council has been awarded an additional £500,000 of Welsh Government funding to construct an off-road route for pedestrians and cyclists along Coychurch Road in Pencoed to complete the link between Coychurch and Pencoed Comprehensive School. Work on the scheme starts in late October and will be completed before the end of March 2019.

 

Roger Dutton, Sustrans Schools Officer, said: “The significant reduction in the number of Croesty pupils who usually come to school by car confirms that our Active Journeys programme and the improved safe routes network in Pencoed are making a difference.

“If it’s possible to leave your car at home for the school run then doing so is not only beneficial for the environment and your children’s health, but it also energises them for the start of the school day!”

 

Councillor Richard Young, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: Well done to the Croesty pupils on achieving this award. Their enthusiasm for Active Travel is infectious and it’s wonderful to see that better access to safe and convenient routes is having such an impact.”

 

Councillor Young added: “One of the most notable improvements made in Pencoed recently to facilitate Active Travel was the creation of a ‘glow in the dark’ path through the Woodlands playing fields.

 

“Because it’s made of a particular surface, it harnesses UV light during the day and then gives off a gentle light to help make the route visible in the dark. It’s a creative way of encouraging Active Travel which will really come into its own as we approach the winter months.”

 

 

Photo caption: Croesty Primary School pupils collecting their Bronze Active Travel Award from Sustrans’ Roger Dutton (centre) and Pencoed Town Mayor Doug John.


Ends - for more information, contact Communications Officer Bob Phillips on 01656 643663. Email: bob.phillips@bridgend.gov.uk Website: www.bridgend.gov.uk

The footpath on one side of Coychurch Road is being developed over the coming weeks and there will be some disruption. It might be worth avoiding Coychurch Road for parking and trying somewhere else. The swimming pool car park might well be worth exploring. The pathway is open in the morning until at least 09:15 and it is open until 16:30 in the evening which is good for after school club pick ups.

Thank you to everyone who made a donation on Friday 28th September for the fight against sepsis. We made a fantastic £182.07 and I'm sure those who joined the run on Sunday will have made much more again.

Croesty were very proud to be represented at the official opening of the first defibrillator for Pencoed. Our school had made a significant contribution towards the fundraising for this life saving piece of equipment for the town.

The defibrillator is located on the out side of the British Legion Club.

Fans of ITVs X Factor cannot fail to have noticed Thomas Pound's performance this weekend. Thomas is a former Croesty pupil and was destined for the dramatic arts at an early age playing key roles in some of our Christmas Productions. Thomas has asked to come back to Croesty to sing for our children and he'd be most welcome - it will be great to see him!

We wish him every success in his X Factor journey.

 

Thomas visits Croesty! Friday 28th September

Year 4 find out about life in Medieval times in a visit to Cosmeston Medieval Village

We're having a Scoot to School as part of our active journeys programme on Friday 28th September. We'll be leaving the swimming pool at 08:30 to scoot into school. See our Community - letters page for more details.

School Clubs

 

The following clubs will start this week:

Multi Sports Clubs (rugby, Football & Indoor Activities)- Tuesday 3:15 to 4:15

Film Club Tuesday 12:00 to 13:00

Superstars Club Thursday 3:15 to 4:15

Please remember:

Choir does not start until Monday 1st October

Lego Club starts after half term

 

Some of the clubs are filling up fast with just a few places left for Choir, Lego Club and Indoor Games Activities.

New Head Boy and Girl

We've confirmed our new head boy and girl for this academic year. They will be supported by a deputy head girl and boy.

Our head boy will be Tom and his deputy will be Henry. Our head girl will be Darcey and she will be supported by Ellie Mae as her deputy. These four children are our key school ambassadors who will meet and greet all important visitors. They will introduce events here at school and represent us in learning events out of school. These four act as important role models for our school community and we wish them well for the year ahead.

 

New House Captains

​​​​​​​The children in Year 5 and 6 have voted/ selected the new house captains for the year.

Draig (Red)

Captains: Darcey and Reuben Vice Captains: Evie and Jack

Castell (Yellow)

Captains: Freya and Tom  Vice Captains: Cora and Henry

Cennin (Green)

Captains:Megan and Rowan  Vice Captains: Thea and Imogen

Afon (Blue)

Captains: Ffion and Ethan Vice Captains: Abigail and Jayden