Sidmouth pupils cycle to cut carbon emmissions

IT IS not just uniforms that are green at St Nicholas Junior, Sidmouth.

Pupils have been taking up the Carbon Challenge set by Devon County Council, in a bid to reduce its CO2 emissions.

The School Council, made up of 24 pupils - two from each class - and its coordinator, Year Six teacher Rachel Sturdey, this week challenged the school to get in by walking, cycling or car sharing.

Even those living further away were asked to try to walk part of the way.

Ms Sturdey said: "A survey we carried out last year showed that, just by travelling to school, we were producing 18 tonnnes of CO2, and we are not the only school.

"The School Council has been working alongside DCC to think of ways we could reduce our carbon footprint.

"We have had a banner made, which includes designs by the children and we are running a competition in school to see which class can get most people travelling to school in a way that is good for the environment."

Councillors had their say. Katrina, nine: "We need to cut down CO2 because if you go by car you get oil in the air which will hurt the environment and the animals."

Georgina, 10, thought it important to act now: "because in 1,000 years the Earth will get too hot and the ice will melt."

Freddie, eight, thought walking to school would "make a big difference. I think every school should cut down."

Chairman Angus, 11: "There needs to be a group that has some responsibility to get things in the school done and it can come from the pupils as well as teachers and that is what the School Council provides."

It is planning other activities to encourage greener travel for the rest of the term, and Year Five and Six children are currently undergoing cycle training with teacher Lucy Tyrrell.

"We will have a bike day in June with a cyclist coming into school to do stunts and encourage more to cycle," said Ms Sturdey.