CHILDREN from a York primary school have been invited to Prague to address an international conference about how to encourage more pupils to walk or cycle to school.

Dringhouses Primary is the only school in England to be chosen to send pupils to the conference later this month.

It was recommended by the transport charity Sustrans, which was impressed by the school’s success in persuading 40 per cent of pupils to abandon the car for the journey to school.

The school will be represented by 11-year-old pupils Jarrad Bray and Benjamin Long, who will be accompanied by teacher David Woodings and teaching assistant Alison Baxter.

Jarrad and Ben, both keen cyclists, will tell teachers, travel planners and pupils from Czech and German schools about their school’s successful travel plan.

Jarrad said: “Ben and I have been making a video about our school and having fun producing a PowerPoint presentation for schools at the conference.” Benjamin said: “I think it’s a really good opportunity for Jarrad and I to go to Prague, especially as we like biking so much.”

Since Sustrans started working closely with Dringhouses Primary School in 2004, the number of pupils who cycle to school has more than doubled.

The school has received help from a Sustrans Bike It officer, a member of staff dedicated to encouraging pupils to cycle to school by overcoming barriers that are preventing them from cycling.

A number of initiatives, including a “Beat the queues, use your shoes” campaign and a new cycle storage facility have also helped cut car use at the school.

The trip has been funded by Cycling City York, a community-led partnership project that encourages more people to cycle.

Graham Titchener, programme manager for Cycling City York, said: “It’s wonderful that Dringhouses Primary School has been recognised for its efforts to promote and encourage sustainable transport. It’s a fantastic opportunity for pupils to share information with an international audience and will help to raise greater awareness of all the positive work that is going on in York.

“Cycling to school is cheaper, healthier, more fun, more environmentally-friendly and often much quicker too.

“It also helps to make the environment around schools safer by reducing the number of cars.”