Stanton Cross Primary School Award for Active Travel
10 November 2026
Pupils and staff at Stanton Cross Primary School in Wellingborough have been recognised with a Modeshift STARS award for their work developing a travel plan in a bid to increase walking, scooting and cycling to school and improve road safety.
Cllr Sylvia Erskine Mayor of Wellingborough and Cllr Chris McGiffen, North Northamptonshire Council Executive Member for Transport and Highways along with Brightwayz staff attended a school assembly where the Mayor presented the award and a school gate banner to celebrate the achievement.
The school is one of the first in the county to be awarded the ‘approved’ level for their school travel plan from Modeshift STARS (Sustainable Travel Accredited and Recognised) on behalf of the Department for Transport. The plan involved doing a survey of how pupils travel to school and how they would like to travel to school, carrying out a site and street audit of how easy it is to walk or cycle and listing the actions they plan to take to make traveling in active ways easier and safer for pupils.
It is fantastic to see Stanton Cross Primary School recognised for the commitment it has shown to promoting active travel. Encouraging more children to walk, scoot or cycle to school can bring significant benefits, not only for their health and wellbeing, but also by helping to reduce congestion around school gates and improving road safety for everyone.Cllr Chris McGiffen, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Highways and Travel, Waste, Environmental Services and Country Parks
The school's travel plan is a great example of how pupils, staff and partners can work together to identify practical ways to make journeys to school safer and more sustainable. Congratulations to everyone involved in achieving this award, and I hope it inspires other schools across North Northamptonshire to take advantage of the support available and begin their own active travel journey.
All schools across the county have the opportunity for free support to develop their own travel plans thanks to investment from North Northamptonshire Council. The work is contracted to local active travel social enterprise Brightwayz who support schools across the county whilst working in partnership with the Council’s Highways team.
So far this year six schools in the county have achieved a Modeshift STARS accreditation and 19 schools are actively involved in the project. All schools were approached with the opportunity through a survey carried out by the Highways team in late 2025. The aim is for every school in the county to have a travel plan in place by 2034.
Having a travel plan which is shaped to the needs of each school means they can be proactive in improving the opportunities for pupils to travel in safe, active ways. It also enables the schools to access further resources. For example all schools completing the survey receive a free ‘reflector shop pack’ enabling pupils to promote the ‘be bright be seen’ message.
After the presentation, a selection of pupils then took to the streets to do an ‘active travel inspectors’ audit accompanied by Brightwayz. Their findings are being submitted to the North Northants Council Highways team.
We are over the moon to receive an award that acknowledges the hard work of staff and children on travelling to school on foot, by bike or scooter.Melissa Albert, Head Teacher at Stanton Cross Primary School
We are a new school, serving the local community and thinking about the importance of staying safe whilst also thinking about the local environment and pollution. Our children want to create an impact, not only for themselves but for their children and families in the future. We can’t wait to continue working with Brightwayz, thinking about a better community for our Stanton Cross families.
Schools can get in contact with Brightwayz if they are interested in getting support to develop their own Modeshift STARS travel plan.