ENCOURAGING youngsters to walk or cycle to school is high on the Government's agenda - so when Education Minister Parmjit Dhanda visited a York school, he was pleasantly surprised to find the city well ahead of the game. Education reporter Haydn Lewis joined him to find out more. BEING rewarded for doing something well is always good. So when Children, Young People and Families Minister Parmjit Dhanda went to Copmanthorpe Primary School on Monday, staff and pupils were only too pleased to see him.

Copmanthorpe is one of the 67 per cent of York schools with a travel plan, and is looking at a whole host of ways of becoming more environmentally friendly -which is why it was picked out for the special visit.

Mr Dhanda was given a tour of the school, and spoke to head teacher Judith Rigg and the school council about their efforts.

Copmanthorpe was in the vanguard of York schools in developing a travel plan. It secured £5,000 Government funding towards cyclepaths at the school, and City of York Council has put up a new bike shed there.

Meanwhile youngsters on the Year 6 and school councils have actively encouraged others to walk or cycle to school, and come up with their own recycling initiatives.

I met ten-year-olds Chloe Dwyer, Lauren Shericker, Alistair Souch and Harry Battles, who are all on the Year 6 council. All have passed their cycling proficiency and often cycle to and from school.

Lauren said: "We had been thinking of ways to get people to cycle to school more, and the cyclepaths are a part of that. Some of the main roads are quite busy round here, but the cyclepaths in school mean we are taken away from the cars."

Alistair said: "We are going to have a competition to design a logo with the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - and try and get the council to put it on bags we can use."

The youngsters said they enjoyed talking to the Minister. Harry said: "We talked to him about the recycling we do in school." Chloe said: "He talked to us about everything we have done as part of our travel plan, about cycling to school and our sponsored walk round school."

Mr Dhanda said: "It's not just about making youngsters aware of environmental issues, but making them a sustainable part of school life.

"The new bike shelter and cycle lanes that have been put in here at the school have changed things and helped the children, and schools like this are taking the lead. It is something we are trying to encourage nationally."

Miss Rigg said: "We are not the only York school to be doing this kind of thing, and I think the best bit about it is that the children have been thoroughly involved."