One Romford primary school is celebrating this month after being named one of the most environmentally friendly in the capital.

Hylands Primary School in Granger Way, received a Gold award from Transport for London (TFL) for helping to reduce car use, increasing walking and cycling, and using public transport to help pupils travel to school safely.

Hylands has being working with the TFL’s STARS award scheme, that helps primary and secondary school children adopt safe and sustainable ways to travel to school including cycling, walking and public transport.

Over the past few months the entire school community has worked on a school travel plan and organised a range of activities around the school community to encourage more eco-friendly habits.

This has included organising a bike club and helping to promote sustainable commuting to school.

The school offers a wide range of cycling provision and aims for every children to ride a bike before they leave Hylands.

This includes scooter lessons for infants, bikeability coaching for juniors and providing a bike club for Year 6 that promotes cycling by teaching children how to recognise local road features and riding around local parks.

Kathryn Grundy, assistant head teacher, said: “We are so proud that Hylands have been able to achieve the Gold Stars Award. We shall continue to do all we can to make travelling to school safe and sustainable. The children thoroughly enjoyed representing Hylands Primary School on the day.”

The gold award rewards all Hylands’ youngsters for their efforts and was presented to two of the school’s junior travel ambassadors from Year 5, Clark Finnie and Isla MacSween, at a special award ceremony in London on November 20.

Leon Daniels, TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, said: “With the help of our STARS programme, we are delighted children are championing sustainable ways of travel, the importance of air quality, and road and personal safety.

“School accreditation has grown impressively, and it’s great to have every London borough on-board.

“We are especially proud of the top performing schools for leading by example to inspire others to help make our streets healthier and safer.”