Hammond pupils look to match Eurostars in school run competition

​Pupils at Hammond School have had something in common with Europe’s top footballers this summer – they have both been competition for their own Golden Boot trophy.

​But whilst France’s Antoine Griezmann clinched the football one for being top scorer at Euro 2016, Hammond pupils had slightly more everyday interests to focus on as they took part in a nationwide competition to encourage pupils and parents to leave the car at home and use sustainable transport for the school run.

Every time a pupil walked, scooted, cycled or used public transport to get to school, they won a point for their class, with points also being awarded for car sharing or split journeys where there is no alternative.

At the end of term, the points were totted up, with the winning class being named as 3NE.

Hammond School, together with local partner school Lightwater, is part of the Surrey-based GLF Schools group, having joined the multi-academy trust last November.

“The fact it has the same name as the football trophy is a very handy coincidence because it made all the pupils aware of it and motivated them to try and win it for their class,” said Hammond’s executive headteacher Sarah Evans.

“Well done to 3NE for their success.  Summer is the best time to do it, so we hope parents and children alike will keep the idea alive after the term has finished and realise the many benefits for everyone of encouraging their children to think about and use ways of get about other than by using the car.

“I hope they’ll start to think of walking or cycling as being the norm for getting around. If that is the case, then it’s not just 3NE, but everyone who ends up winning.”