Katherine Warington School, based in Harpenden has beaten off the competition to win the
National Modeshift STARS Secondary School of the Year 2023.

Modeshift STARS, funded by Active Travel England, is the centre of excellence for the
delivery of effective travel plans in education, business, and communities. The scheme
recognises schools that have shown excellence in supporting sustainable travel to and from
School.

Katherine Warington School showed its commitment by ensuring pupils have safe and
effective travel routes to school. They are keen to promote sustainable travel and have had a
drop-off/pick up zones map since the day they opened in September 2019.

Dean Inns, School Business Manager said “We are delighted to have been recognised at a national level for the work and commitment we have put in to ensure students have safe and sustainable methods of travelling to school. We will continue to work to build on this success”

The school have an Active Travel Plan Group which meets regularly and comprises local
councillors, Hertfordshire County Council representatives and school representatives,
together with parents, carers, and students. Since the start of the Plan, over 40% of their
students travel by school bus each day with a further 35% walking or cycling to school,
resulting in over 75% of students travelling by sustainable means.

The Charity for everyday walking, Living Streets worked with the school’s student Eco
Council to compose a school travel audit which identified barriers to sustainable travel, such
as unsuitable crossing points, lighting and kerbing issues. The report was presented to
Hertfordshire County Council and work is already underway to resolve some of the issues
identified. Living Streets also assisted the school with producing a leaflet for the new Year 7
parents and carers, complete with Zonal Map and key information on sustainable travel.

The school runs an Anti-Idling campaign with students designing posters to display on the
website and around the school. Students promote this by going out into the local community
(in hi-vis jackets) to promote this initiative. Bikeability training is offered to all of Year 7 and
any new students in older year groups, while the school conducts regular assemblies on road
safety and regularly takes part in Walk to School week.

Everyone connected to the school is immensely proud of this achievement and will continue
with the promotion of sustainable travel.