Portlaoise Schools Cluster Project

The Portlaoise Schools Cluster Project is part of the Portlaoise Low Carbon Town Initiative. While the project was initiated by Laois Co. Co., it is run in the 10 primary and secondary schools of Portlaoise by Green-Schools.

The aim of the project is to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and safety on the way to school. This will be achieved by encouraging students, parents and teachers to walk, wheel, cycle, scoot, park & stride, use public transport or carpool instead of using the private car on the school run. Beside the environmental benefits, the added bonus of active travel will be improved physical and mental health for all.

The project is planned to run over 2 years, but the 10 schools involved are already ploughing ahead with the organisation of WOW days. WOW days, also known as Walk On Wednesdays, are a weekly initiative where the whole school community is asked to make the extra effort to travel sustainably to school, with a focus on walking or park & stride (park away from the school and walk the rest of the way). The children and students have embraced WOW days and are now asking grown-ups to do the same, i.e. WOW days on the way to work. They are also asking employers to offer the flexibility needed for their employees to take part in WOW days.

This coming 11th December, all schools are organising the SANTA STROLL. This will be will be a townwide WOW day, where everyone who is walking to work or school will be asked to wear a Santa hat or a Christmas related item of clothing, for example a red and green scarf, etc.

Past Events

7th November 2024 – Primary Schools Travel Forum 

Success for the first Travel Forum of the Portlaoise Schools Cluster Project! With the fantastic support of Laois Co. Co. Travel Officers Chiara Hanrahan and Michèle Castiaux gathered representatives of the Green-Schools Committees of 6 primary schools in Laois Chambers. The children were in awe at the opportunity to sit in the County Councillors seats, but very quickly showed great knowledge and confidence at expressing themselves. They discussed the outcomes of their participation in Walk to School Week 2024, then focused on planning for two upcoming events: Clean Air Week from the 25th to the 29th November and a town wide Santa Stroll / WOW day planned on the 11th December 2024.

26th September 2024 – Green-Schools coordinators seminars

The Green-Schools coordinators from the Portlaoise schools taking part in the project were invited to a seminar at Laois Education Centre on the 26th September 2024. This was the first opportunity for the teachers to meet each other and Travel Officers Chiara Hanrahan and Michèle Castiaux, who will be supporting them throughout the year. They were informed of the goals of the project and the planned timeline to achieve this goal.

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