Tallaght schools’ travel behaviour challenges scoop the top awards
William O'Connor
TWO Tallaght schools were honoured at the Green-Schools BIG Travel Challenge 2016 awards.
St Maelruain’s JNS and Tallaght Community School triumphs were honoured at Ireland’s Travel Schools of the Year Awards at a ceremony in the Radisson Hotel.
An Taisce Green-Schools presented the schools with their awards at the event honouring the winners of this year’s Green-Schools BIG Travel Challenge 2016 in the Radisson Hotel, Golden Lane. Six other schools were also awarded on the day for their efforts in promoting sustainable and active travel modes to school.
During February schools undertook the BIG Travel Challenge, which asked them to concentrate on one sustainable transport mode for two weeks to see if they could achieve real lasting change in the travel behaviour of their staff and students.
The Challenge is an initiative of the Green-Schools Travel theme, which is supported by the NTA and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
At St Maelruain’s JNS, 466 students excelled and embraced the challenge. They concentrated on scooting, beginning their challenge with 102 students and ending with an outstanding 230 students opting to travel to school on foot.
Tallaght Community School, with 750 students, concentrated on encouraging students to walk to school, beginning their challenge with 231 students and ending with an outstanding 379 students opting to travel to school on foot.
Students from the school’s committee campaigned inside and outside the school gates to encourage people to change their travel mode and they made and hung posters and banners around the school too.
Congratulating the schools on their achievements, Green-Schools Travel Manager Jane Hackett said: “Two weeks is a short space of time in the school calendar, but these schools really showed that a lot can change in a fortnight! They’ve shown that engagement – within the school community and outside the school gates – is one of the keys to real and lasting behaviour change. Well done!”
