Schools in the borough have been commended for their active and safer travel campaigns.

The STARS (Sustainable Travel, Active, Responsible, Safe) programme, run by Transport for London commended three Hackney schools for their efforts to encourage safety, cycling and walking to and from school.

Wentworth Nursery School, in Cassland Road, was praised for reducing car use from 20 per cent in 2007 to two per cent this year.

The Bridge Academy, in Laburnum Street , achieved four per cent of pupils cycling to school each day and a shift from car use from more than 15 per cent in 2008 to 3 per cent in 2014.

Emma DeSausmarez, Kingsmead Primary School, Hackney, in Kingsmead Way, was named school champion for helping put in place a neighbouring school’s cycling model, which has led to both schools achieving Gold level STARS accreditation and cycling levels at Emma’s school increasing to over 20 per cent of pupils cycling each day.

The top performing schools were recognised in a special ceremony at City Hall on November 11.

The Transport for London programme now signs up more than 45 per cent or 1385 of London’s primary and secondary schools. Schools are judged on how many initiatives delivered and their success in changing travel patterns. with Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation levels.