St Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Menston is the latest recipient of a Metro SAFEMark award for promoting good behaviour on its school buses. SAFEMark is given to those schools which make a commitment to improve safety and the behaviour of pupils on school and regular bus services. Metro’s SAFEMark team runs the scheme in partnership with local bus operating companies and West Yorkshire Police.

"I'm delighted that St Mary’s has gained this award," said Councillor Chris Greaves Metro's District Spokesperson for Bradford.

"Metro’s SAFEMark scheme rewards secondary schools for taking public transport seriously by making a commitment to improve safety and the behaviour of pupils on school and regular bus services. This award demonstrates St Mary’s dedication to forging links with the local community and also serves as a good example of what can be achieved through a partnership approach.”

St Mary’s School reached the required standard for the award by:

- actively promoting SAFEMark through parents' evenings and the school's web site;

- producing a handbook to make sure all school staff know who to contact and what to do;

- regularly liaising with service operators, First, on any incidents.

SAFEMark is one element of Metro’s drive to improve public transport and cut road congestion across West Yorkshire. The school run is currently responsible for 1 in 5 cars on the road at peak times and Metro is reducing that figure through schemes such as SAFEMark and My bus yellow buses, which encourage pupils and parents to choose public transport for the home-to-school journey.

More information about Metro’s SAFEMark scheme can be found in the Schools and Colleges section of Metro’s web site at www.wymetro.com